Heritage site: Court seeks original documents of Chawkandi graveyard

Petitioner claims graveyard being encroached by people who want to build hotels and houses

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the Sindh Culture and Heritage Department to submit the original demarcation plan of the Chawkandi graveyard, which has allegedly been encroached upon by the land mafia.

This was announced during the hearing of a petition filed by Agha Syed Attallah Shah, an NGO representative, who alleged that precious stones and carvings on the graves were being removed and unauthorised constructions were taking place.

The Chawkandi graveyard, located on National Highway over nearly 57 acres, is one of the country's most significant national heritage sites.

According to Shah, some influential men were stealing the carved stones from the graveyard for their personal use. He claimed that the last resting place of famous tribal personalities was being illegally occupied by influential people who wanted to construct hotels, houses and truck stands on the necropolis.

The petitioner complained that the provincial chief secretary and the culture secretary, who are legally bound under the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act and the National Fund for Cultural Heritage Ordinance to preserve national heritage sites, had failed to act against those responsible for the loss to the heritage site.

"The graveyard is in a dilapidated condition," said Shah, adding that the court should direct the authorities to ensure proper maintenance of the graveyard.

Since last May, the heritage and culture secretary has repeatedly been asked by the judges to ensure that no illegal construction was being carried out at the site and to ensure that no one was allowed to vandalise the heritage site.

During Tuesday's hearing, the special secretary appeared in lieu of the secretary, who was previously ordered to personally appear, to explain why he had taken no action and defied the court's orders.

The special secretary assured the court that original documents, including the demarcation plan, would be submitted and requested for time to do the same. Allowing time, the bench, headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar, directed him to submit the documents before the next date of hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2015.