The sculpture of Allama Iqbal caused hue and cry on social media. The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) announced the removal and reinstallation of the sculpture after it caused a storm on social media.
Nadia Tufail, the spokesperson of the park confirms the removal and reinstallation of the sculpture after improvements.
A picture shared on Twitter shows a group of workers uprooting the boundary fence surrounding the sculpture.
سوشل میڈیا پے وائرل ہونے کے بعد اقبال کے مجسمے کو اکھاڑا جا رہا ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/4jlRof0vbp
— Rai Shahnawaz (@RaiShahnawaz) February 2, 2021
“After going viral on social media, Iqbal’s structure is being uprooted,” he wrote.
However, Yasir Gillani, Chairman PHA clarified that the park’s gardeners built the statue out of their own pockets out of their love for Allama Iqbal.
Dear, this is prepared by maalis at their own , they made it in shere love for Iqbal and to pay homage from their heart. Authority didn’t approved or even paid a single penny for it.
WE WILL ADDRESS IT but can anyone see from maalis eye’s, their love and their عقیدت, pic.twitter.com/qAdf0Nw4E9— Yasir Gillani PTI (@yasir_gillani) February 2, 2021
“WE WILL ADDRESS IT but can anyone see from maalis eye’s, their love and their عقیدت,” he wrote.
Yasir said to take no action against them as they built the sculpture out of their own pocket. However, he said that no one can build the sculpture inside the park without the park management’s permission.
Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar has sought a report from DG PHA about an incident of placing a statue in Gulshan Iqbal Park. This is the result of the negligence of the concerned officials.