Stolen treasure: Inquiry into PNCA’s missing rare art launched

Agency’s director to supervise inquiry amid fears the artwork was either gifted or sold on the black market

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched an inquiry into the alleged disappearance of some 100 rare artworks from the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA).

The inquiry comes after the council’s Director General Jamal Shah lodged a complaint with the agency.

According to the complaint, the PNCA had noted that some precious paintings and antique items had disappeared when the Ministry of Information checked the stock at the council.

During the stock check, the council discovered that as many as 134 artworks, worth millions of rupees, were missing. These include a number of famous paintings including the miniature "Ramchand and Lakshman " by Ustad Allah Ditta and "Half Kali Davi and Half Mahadev" painted by Ustad Bashratullah. The paintings are believed to be over 100 years old.

It is rumoured that these missing paintings have either been gifted to some influential or sold for high prices on the art black market.

The FIA director will supervise the inquiry while FIA Islamabad would conduct the probe.

Moreover, Interior Minister Nisar Ali khan has directed the agency to recover the missing paintings and artefacts since they were Pakistan’s national treasure.

Intriguingly, the PNCA defines its purpose as building “a robust arts ecosystem by creating an environment conducive to arts.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2017.