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

Forman Christian College University (FCCU) and a coalition of activists are raising alarms over the Punjab government's alleged forcible takeover of Ewing Hall, a historic building on the FCCU campus. The university states the building, part of its historic campus since 1915 and leased until 2040, was seized with minimal notice.

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the university had witnessed with mounting concern the forcible takeover of Ewing Hall, located in the Anarkali area.

University Rector Dr. Jonathan Addleton expressed deep concern, stating officials were informed by telephone of the takeover and given an impossible 24-hour deadline to remove generators, furniture, and historical artifacts. He fears the building, located in the Anarkali area, could be demolished, causing significant grief and distress.

The Lahore Conservation Society Collective has strongly appealed to the Punjab government to halt any plans for acquisition, demolition, or alteration of Ewing Hall, which is listed as a protected heritage building. While supporting heritage revitalization, the collective emphasizes that development must follow international conservation principles, prioritizing restoration and adaptive reuse over demolition.

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Given its historical connections to Forman, the past two days have involved considerable grief and more than a few tears.

Conservationists highlighted the Neela Gumbad-Anarkali precincts as a unique example of Lahore's shared history and interfaith harmony. They proposed creating a "Heritage and Interfaith Harmony Corridor" to celebrate diverse contributions. The collective warned against repeating past mistakes, referencing the recent demolition of Mayo Hospital's historic E wing.

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development should be guided by internationally accepted conservation principles centered on restoration and adaptive reuse rather than demolition.