Ewing Hall | Pakistan

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday restrained the Punjab government from taking further action regarding 11.5 kanal Ewing Hall belonging to Forman Christian College University (FCCU). Earlier this month, activists and alumni raised concerns over the government’s alleged repossession of Ewing Hall, arguing that the move could jeopardise an important part of the college’s historical legacy. The Punjab government, however, has maintained that the lease had expired years ago and that substantial dues remained unpaid. On Thursday, Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad issued the order reserved the other day on a petition filed by the FCCU registrar. A counsel for the petitioner argued that the Punjab government had forcibly taken possession of the land on June 11 and that the Board of Revenue’s (BoR) move to cancel the lease was illegal. The counsel informed the court that the land of Ewing Hall, situated at Neela Gumbad, New Anarkali, had been leased to the college in 1915 and the lease period was extended in 2018 u...

LAHORE: The Lahore Heritage Areas Revival Board (LHAR) has denied reports that the historical Ewing Hall near Neela Gumbad would be demolished following the government’s takeover of the property, saying the structure would be preserved and restored. On the other hand, the Forman Christian College University (FCCU) issued another statement, saying that it has been unfairly asked to pay rent for the period from 1975 till 2003 when the FC College was nationalised and it was in the government control. It says that it had replied to the show-cause notices properly. The controversy emerged after activists and alumni raised concerns over the government’s repossession of Ewing Hall, arguing that the move could jeopardise an important part of the college’s historical legacy. The Punjab government, however, has maintained that the lease had expired years ago and that substantial dues remained unpaid. The LAHR new statement comes after the Forman Christian College University (FCCU) and activists protested against “forci...

Courtesy: FCCU LAHORE: The Forman Christian College University (FCCU), heritage conservationists and human rights activists have raised a voice against the alleged forcible takeover of the Ewing Hall, a historical building associated with the Forman Christian College, by the Punjab government. They urged the government to halt any move that would threaten the century-old structure and engage all stakeholders in a meaningful consultation. In a statement, FCC Rector Dr Jonathan Addleton said the university had witnessed with mounting concern the forcible takeover of Ewing Hall, located in the Anarkali area. He said the building had been a part of the institution’s historic campus for decades, with the initial lease signed in 1915 and subsequently renewed several times, most recently extending into the 2040s. According to Mr Addleton, the university officials were informed by telephone on Wednesday that the building would be taken over the following day. On Thursday, the university was allegedly given 24 hours t...