Historic sites fall prey to ‘land grabbers’ in Khushab

The land mafia in Khushab continues to occupy the district’s archaeological sites, places of worship, houses and local cemeteries of Sikh and Hindu communities who left the region at the time of the partition of the subcontinent.

 Land grabbers have also occupied the lands of the Evacuee Trust Property Board, Hindu Auqaf, Railway Department and District Council.

 The land mafia was active in destroying historical monuments. Sher Shah Suri undertook the construction of mosques, inns and other construction works in the area, which made Khushab famous for its historical significance.

However, due to illegal occupation, this ancient history seems to be erased. Social figure Mohammad Arshad said that Khushab was full of archaeological sites but the land mafia had ruined it.

“They occupied even the land of old and new cemeteries.” He added that the land mafia was trying to occupy government lands.

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“The government should take immediate action against the land occupation mafia.”

 Social leader Malik Sabir Khan alleged that the land mafia had been occupying the land with the connivance of corrupt people in the department.

“As soon as the government takes action, they approach the courts.”

 Renowned researcher Muhammad Fayyaz Chishti said that the history of Khushab was much older than that of the Sher Shah Suri era.

 “It was a period of development and prosperity of Khushab. After Sher Shah Suri, the British colonisers shaped it into a cross. There are a large number of archeological sites here.” Malik Hasnat Awan, a local resident, said that Khushab is a very important area in terms of history.

 “No steps have been taken by Punjab government to protect the archaeology nor have they set up any office of the archaeology department at the district level.” This was why archaeology was disappearing day by day, he added.

“The most problematic thing is that people who occupied the archaeology are changing its appearance for their own interests on a daily basis, which was making the actual history invisible.”

Archaeologist Malik Farooq Awan told The Express Tribune that the history of Khushab was full of impressive sites but the archaeology was disappearing due to lack of patronage from the provincial government.

 “The government should take immediate steps to preserve the district’s heritage.” Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Noman said that the provincial government was taking strict action against the land mafia.

“Necessary steps will be taken against the occupiers of all government lands including archaeological sites in Khushab. The government has a clear stance against the occupation of government lands, whether it is an archaeological site or other government property. The land will be retrieved and the occupation mafia will not be forgiven.”

 Referring to the historical significance of Khushab, Mohsin Awan said that during the reign of Sher Shah Suri, Khushab made great strides in terms of construction and administration.