Forman Christian College University, activists protest ‘forcible takeover’ of Ewing Hall, fear demolition

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 to remove generators, furniture and historical artifacts from the premises, a deadline he described as impossible to meet.

Dr Addleton said that the building could be demolished had further heightened concerns. He noted that the FCC had offered to collaborate on preserving the Ewing Hall and the cultural heritage it represents, stressing that any future decisions should involve all relevant stakeholders, including Pakistan’s minority communities.

Govt says lease had expired, FC college had not paid dues since 1975

“Given its historical connections to Forman, the past two days have involved considerable grief and more than a few tears,” he said, urging civil society to raise its voice and calling on the government to reconsider its actions and return the building to the college/university.

Conservation, not demolition

The Lahore Conservation Society Collective issued a strong appeal to the Punjab government to reconsider any plans involving the acquisition, demolition or irreversible alteration of Ewing Hall, describing it as a protected heritage building listed under the Punjab Special Premises (Preservation) Ordinance, 1985.

The collective said it supported government efforts to revitalise Lahore’s cultural heritage but emphasized that development should be guided by internationally accepted conservation principles centered on restoration and adaptive reuse rather than demolition.

It noted that the Neela Gumbad-Anarkali precincts represented a unique example of Lahore’s shared history and interfaith harmony, encompassing landmarks such as the Valmiki Mandir, Holy Trinity Church, Neela Gumbad, Mayo Hospital, FCC’s original campus and the Punjab University Old Campus.

The organisation proposed the creation of a “Heritage and Interfaith Harmony Corridor” to celebrate the contributions of Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian and colonial institutions to the development of modern Punjab. It warned that the recent demolition of Mayo Hospital’s historic ENT Department building had already raised alarm among conservationists over the continuing loss of Lahore’s architectural heritage.

The collective called on authorities to suspend any proposed acquisition or demolition of historic properties pending a comprehensive heritage impact assessment, adopt a conservation-led approach to urban renewal, and involve historians, architects, conservation experts and local communities in future planning.

The statement was endorsed by several organisations, including ICOMOS Pakistan, Institute of Architects Pakistan, Beaconhouse National University and the UET Department of Architecture.

Separately, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressed deep concern over reports of the forcible takeover and raised serious questions about transparency, due process and the stewardship of shared heritage, adding that any decision affecting a site of such significance should not be taken unilaterally or in a manner that risked irreversible loss. It stressed that the physical integrity of Ewing Hall must be protected at all costs.

Support also came from the Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA), whose president, Prof Dr Amjad Abbas Khan Magsi, described Ewing Hall as part of Lahore’s educational, cultural and historical memory for more than a century.

In a statement, he warned against, what he termed, the creeping takeover of institutions established for public benefit.

“Educational heritage must be preserved, not plundered. Academic spaces must be strengthened, not surrendered,” the statement said, adding that universities and colleges should be protected rather than treated as disposable assets.

Lease expired, dues unpaid since 1975

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari rejected the allegations while speaking to Dawn, saying the lease had expired and it was not extended for many years.

The minister further alleged that the lessee had failed to pay outstanding dues since 1975, saying that the property had been taken back as part of efforts to revive historic buildings under the Lahore Heritage Area Revival Project.

According to documents, shared by the government, outstanding lease rent amounts to Rs107.79 million. The documents state that lease rent payable from 1975 to 2018 stands at Rs29.19 million while rent calculated for the period from 2018 to 2026 amounts to Rs78.59m.

The documents further claim that the land was leased exclusively for educational purposes but had not been used for that purpose since 2015. They also allege that lease rent had not been paid from 1975 onward.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026 ...