A number of religious heritage sites
are to be demolished to make way for the Orange Line Metro Train project in Lahore, which has already displaced
hundreds of people and will lead to the displacement of hundreds of thousands
more.
At least 25 heritage sites, including
Shalimar Gardens, a world heritage site, will be impacted or destroyed despite
being protected by law. In addition, several places of worship and sacred sites
are to be demolished including St Andrews Church, Naulakha Presbyterian Church,
Cathedral Church of the Resurrection and the Mominpura Graveyard, which is of particular
importance to the Lahore Shi’a community. These properties and sites are
protected under the National Antiquities Act 1975.
Local businesses and community
amenities along the length of the route are also being destroyed including
graveyards, schools, mosques, post offices, hospitals, clinics and green
spaces. The Institute for Disadvantaged Children, which served 180 families
with mentally handicapped children, has been demolished and the families are
awaiting relocation to another school.
The Orange Line Metro Train project is
due to be completed by October 2017 at an estimated cost of $1.75billion. Although
the government claims that only a few thousand people will be affected, local
media and civil society argue that the Punjab Government has not factored in
the human cost of displacing hundreds of thousands of people living on low
rents in densely populated central locations.
Local activists state that no
compensation has been paid to the majority of those who have been displaced
since November 2015 and what little compensation is available has been
distributed unfairly, while many of those living on the land in the path of the
planned line are being harassed and threatened by police and government
officials to relinquish their land and properties.
Farida Shaheed, the former UN Special
Rapporteur on Cultural Rights said, “As the first United Nations Special
Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights I have stressed the importance of
cultural heritage as a human right and essential component of the cultural life
of people. I am therefore shocked that the 27 km Orange train project in Lahore
threatens at least 27 well known cultural heritage sites – one for every
kilometer.”
“People
living and working in these areas will have their entire livelihoods and ways
of cultural life disrupted. The destruction and harm to these sites violates
the right of residents and Pakistanis in general of hugely significant parts of
their cultural heritage, which is an essential part of people’s cultural
identities. The government
must remember and abide by its legal obligations under the international
treaties to respect and protect people’s cultural heritage, and uphold the
rights of full participation of the concerned people in decision-making about
all policies enshrined in these covenants and in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.”
Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said, “CSW is deeply concerned that these
communities will lose their homes and livelihoods, while also facing the potential
loss of religious heritage sites. This is a blow at a time when religious
minorities are in a particularly weak position in Pakistan. It is clear that in
the planning and construction of this train line, the Punjab government is in
contravention of various legislation regarding cultural heritage, as well as
international covenants protecting cultural rights and the right to freedom of
religion or belief. We urge the Punjab Government to enter into dialogue with
the affected communities in order to ensure that the civil and cultural rights of
these citizens are upheld.”