IQBAL statue being removed from park

By: Robin Umar

Lahore: The provincial government on Tuesday began removing a statue of national poet Allama Iqbal in Gulshan-Iqbal Park to improve after its design was heavily criticized on social media inappropriately.

“The statue is over 13 feet high and nine feet wide made with concrete, steel, plaster of Paris and other material. We made it in pieces at a nearby nursery, transferred it to the park and assembled it with the necessary items,” said Ghulam Sibtain, assistant director of Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), who was suspended for taking the initiative. PHA Director-General (DG) Jawad Qureshi said “The process of removing this image has been initiated and will be completed with the utmost care and caution. He will protect it in every way and improve it with dignity. I will also ensure the statue is improved by the same people who made it in the first place to pay homage to Allama Iqbal in a park named after him.” However, the farmers who are said to have built the statue with their own equipment said that it will be damaged if such a large structure is first removed, relocated and then upgraded.

The artwork of the statue has sparked controversy on social media and has become a hot topic after journalist Hamid Mir wrote on Twitter: “Sir Waleed Iqbal Sahib: do you know whose statue of this is? Does it really look like of Allama Iqbal? Your government thinks it a statue of Allama Iqbal, as it got it displayed this after getting it made by someone on some recommendation. It is really sad "Journalist Asma Shirazi wrote on social media:" Allama Iqbal has been transferred to a new Pakistan.” A Twitter user, Sabir Nazir commented: “Pakistan is the land of Gandhara Sculpture, even 35 years ago we had more skilled sculptors in Mohenjo-Daro. This is not a sculpture of Iqbal but monument of mediocrity.”

PC: https://www.google.com/search?q=allama+iqbal+statue&rlz=1C1CHBD_enPK733PK733&sxsrf=ALeKk00zCB122X8lVKXt1P_cGU5joKe4pw:1612421061897&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjIrP3E0M_uAhXwXhUIHf7pBr4Q_AUoAXoECB4QAw&biw=1366&bih=625#imgrc=ewnlGmNUjc9xiM