Rewind: Destruction of National Hotel building continues unabated

Directorate of Archaeology and Museums vows to take stand against demolition

PESHAWAR:

The destruction of a historical building that once housed National Hotel continues unabated. The structure has been pulled down and only the façade remains.

Situated in Qissa Khwani Bazaar near Jhangi Mohallah, the hotel with unique jharokas (eastern bay windows) still attracts people. Although most of its windows have been shattered and its walls have been demolished by labourers, people continue to visit the site.

National Hotel, also known as ‘Night hotel’ by foreigners, used to buzz with hippies and European tourists till 1990. According to elders of the area, music from balconies of the upper floors floated beyond the premises and fragrance from its rooms would spread across streets.  “Everything changed drastically after militancy gripped the region,” Muhammad Ibrahim Zia, a local historian, who has also set his printing press near the hotel told The Express Tribune.

However, K-P Directorate of Archaeology and Museums has taken notice of the fast paced destruction and assured action will be taken against it.

Need to conserve

Zia, who has also written a book on the historical structures of the city said, “We will have nothing left, if all buildings of historical importance are destroyed one by one.”

He said the structure was a typical example of Peshawar’s historical architecture and has set the trend for the construction of many buildings at one point.

“This is our heritage and we need to leave traces for our future generations as well as for tourists who visit from abroad,” Zia said. He said laws should be framed to make the owner of such property preserve it so that historical architecture of the city can be preserved.

“Being a signatory of various UN conventions, Pakistan must at least protect front facades of historic bazaars and cities of Pakistan,” said engineer and conservationist Mahmood Aslam who was also included in provincial heritage committee headed by former chief minister Haider Khan Hoti.

“National Hotel has a row of jharokas which are unique and must be incorporated in the new structure,” he said. “This building needs complete retrofitting or reconstruction but government should not approve a new building plan unless the owners agree to preserve the front facade.”

The law

Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Director Dr Abdul Samad told The Express Tribune on Saturday destruction of the building has been halted and all steps to preserve the historical entity will be taken.

“We have stopped demolishment work and an FIR will be registered tomorrow (Sunday),” he said. “We will not allow anyone to erase these structures.”

The K-P government recently passed a law for the protection, preservation and development of such historical entities. The law also devised strict punishment for offenders. However, it stated a building will be considered a historical entity if it was a century old as opposed to 75 years that was previously mentioned.

Historical trail

Although no official records of the building were available, the structure was constructed in 1920 according to the date inscribed on its bricks.

Zia said it started as an inn by a Sikh named Hari Jagan and was called Sara-e-Hari Jagan. However after the partition, when Hari Jagan left the city, the building came under Evacuee Trust Property Board.

The board auctioned the building and it was purchased by Mian Feroz Shah Kakakhel, a Khan Bahadur in British era in the Subcontinent. His son, Mian Rahim Shah Kakakhel was the first education minister of the erstwhile North West Frontier Province.

The building was given to Ismail Durrani on rent where he established National Hotel. Currently, those who purchased shops in the building share its ownership.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 3^rd, 2016.