Bhagat Singh Heritage Gallery to be developed in Lahore's Poonch House
Bhagat Singh Heritage Gallery will be developed in the historic building of Poonch House in Lahore, capital of Punjab province in Pakistan. The decision has been welcomed by Advocate Imtiaz Rasheed Qureshi, Chairman Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation, Pakistan, who has been making untiring efforts to get this proposal approved.
Qureshi informed The Tribune that a decision in principle has been taken by the Department of Industries to develop Bhagat Singh Heritage Gallery in Poonch House.
Poonch House was a residential building, constructed in 1849 for Lord Lawrence, who was the commander of the Sikh forces during the tenure of the last Sikh ruler, Maharaja Duleep Singh. After Lord Lawrence, Poonch House was under the use of Charles Boulnois, who served as a Barrister at Chief Court. Later, it became a residency of Chief Justice Sir Meredyth Plowden.
According to the records of the Revenue Department, the land on which Poonch House is constructed was a property of Raja Jagat Singh. In 1962, this building was handed over to the Federal Government of Pakistan.
Qureshi said information will be provided about the proceedings of the court case against Bhagat Singh and books written on him will also be kept in the gallery. Ehsan Bhutta, Secretary Industries; and Muhammad Hassan, Director of Directorate General of Archaeology, Punjab, are supervising the plan.