Vandalism at Makli

Vandalism and theft remain the single-biggest threat to Makli necropolis near Thatta. The necropolis counted among the world’s biggest is poorly protected and managed despite its status as a world heritage site by Unesco and one of the country’s architectural marvels. As a victim of official neglect, the funerary site has long been a magnet for robbers and vandals. In their latest rampage this week, thieves made off with carved headstones of graves as well as crack monitors used in and around the tomb of Samma dynasty ruler Jam Nizamuddin II also known as Jam Nindo. The necropolis is particularly vulnerable because it is not fenced in and the security guards manning its outer perimeters are hard pressed to keep intruders off the premises. And judging from what transpired only recently the guards don’t appear to be equipped for the job. They also appear to be blind and hearing challenged as they failed to reach the place where the vandals had dug out intricately carved stones from graves and a wooden door. To loosen the stones and door the thieves would have had to use a large jackhammer — the sound of which was loud enough to awaken an entire herd of sleeping elephants.

As a strategy, fencing of the funerary site may be useful but it is unlikely to lock out the vandals for good as there are several human encroachments along the way — without doubt caused by the strain of a human population boom on nearby Thatta. Another reason why a fencing plan might be doomed is that people travelling through the area are always tempted to find shortcuts and use the same without a thought to either the sanctity or security of the graves. The situation could change if the Sindh government can provide robust security at the site. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2018.

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