On Tuesday, a Pakistani court directed the Lahore police chief to address a plea concerning security arrangements for an upcoming event commemorating the 93rd death anniversary of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru, and Sukh Dev. Filed by advocate Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, chairman of the Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation Pakistan, the petition sought foolproof security measures and the installation of walk-through gates for the event scheduled for March 23 at Shadman Chowk in Lahore, aiming to prevent any potential incidents.
During the court hearing, Lahore High Court Judge Shahid Karim instructed the Lahore police chief to review Qureshi’s application regarding security arrangements for the event. Qureshi emphasized in his petition that the Punjab government had not responded to his requests for security measures at the event, which marks the site where Bhagat Singh and his comrades were executed 93 years ago.
Qureshi also highlighted past threats from extremist groups regarding events commemorating Bhagat Singh’s memory. Earlier this month, the Lahore High Court had issued notices to the Punjab provincial government and district administration in response to a petition seeking contempt proceedings against three officials for not complying with a previous court order to name Shadman Chowk after Bhagat Singh.
The Lahore High Court had previously ordered the government to rename Shadman Chowk in honor of Bhagat Singh in 2018. Bhagat Singh, a prominent figure in the struggle for independence, was executed by British authorities on March 23, 1931, along with Rajguru and Thapar, after being accused of conspiring against the colonial regime. Initially sentenced to life imprisonment, Bhagat Singh was later handed the death penalty in another controversial case. His legacy resonates not only with Sikhs and Hindus but also with Muslims across the subcontinent.