Lhc orderes to change the name of Chowk Fawara with Khatm-e-Nubuwat Chowk.
Friday, January 03, 2014
BAHAWALPUR
Muhammad Ashfaq, in a petition, contended that thousands of activists of Tehrik Khatam-e-Nabuwat, Bahawalpur, had gathered at Chowk Fawara during the historic movement of Khatam-e-Nabuwat launched to declare Qadianis as infidel in 1935.
After hearing the arguments, the court ordered the Bahawalpur TMA to immediately send a summary to the Punjab government through the Local Government secretary to rename Chowk Fawara. The court also directed the removal of statues from the Khatam-e-Nabuwat Chowk. The historic fountain was built in 1888. In 1895, it was installed in front of Sadiqgarh Palace, Dera Nawab Sahib. In 1903, the fountain was relocated to its present location on the coronation of the then Amir of Bahawalpur Nawab Bahawal Khan Abbasi. Viceroy Lord Karzan had inaugurated the fountain. Chowk Fawara is famous in the world as well as abroad. It has historical significance for being one of two fountains in the world. Another fountain exists in front of the Buckingham Palace.
Daily “The News”Lahore
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BAHAWALPUR
Friday, January 03, 2014
Scores of people organised a rally at the Fawara Chowk here on Thursday to celebrate court orders to change the chowk’s name to Tahaffuz-i-Khatm-i-Nabuwat Chowk.
The ruling was given by Judge Sardar Shameem Khan of Lahore High Court on December 31. International Khatm-i-Nabuwat’s Haji Muhammad Shafi, Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam’s Shafqatur Rehman, and Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat’s Rao Muhammad Javed Iqbal addressed the rally.
The speakers said that hundreds of resolutions had been passed by the citizens seeking the renaming. They said the place had been landmark during the anti-Ahmadi movement in early 1930s started by the Majlis-i-Ahrar-i-Islam, founded in 1930. The speakers lauded the judge for the decision.
They demanded that the government immediately issue a notification recognising the renaming. The ruling came on a petition filed by a citizen, Muhammad Ishfaq.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2014.
