Historical sites in Hazara at risk

Expressing concern over ‘clandestine’ activities at historical sites, an archaeologist has said that such acts have been eliminating the traces of Stone Age in Hazara division. 

Archaeologists of Hazara University excavating a site in Chitral [Credit: Junaid Ahmad/Panoramio]

“The archaeologists are agreed that large scale antiquity smuggling and demolishing of the monuments in the name of development would deprive Hazara division of its history, which goes back to Stone Age,” Mohammad Safdar Khan, the chairman of conservation studies department of Hazara University, told Dawn here on Sunday. 

Mr Khan, one of the few degree holders in the field of conservation studies in the country, said that the culture heritage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly Hazara, was faced with danger owing to demolishing historical monuments following October 8, 2005 earthquake and clandestine activities at the ancient sites. 

“If the ongoing smuggling of antiques goes at the same pace, time is not far that the people of Hazara will lose not only the cultural heritage but also their history,” he said. 

He said that sculptures, seized by police recently in Mansehra, were rare historical pieces and those involved in the smuggling should be taken to task to discourage smuggling of ancient pieces in the region. 

Mr Khan said that under 18the Amendment, the cultural heritage and monuments were devolved to provinces. It was another reason in increase in clandestine activities, he added. 

“Antiquity Act of 1975 of federal government is still active and despite the devolution of the ministry the provinces cannot enact their own antiquity law as yet,” he added. 

Mr Khan said that antiquates excavated from Hazara were being smuggled aboard because of the lake of resources with provinces. 

He said that though the ancient heritage was under threat in the name of development, yet the case of Hazara was more dangerous as many ancient buildings were grounded after October 8, 2005 earthquake in the region. 

Mr Khan said that the historical Shive temple in Chitty Ghatee had lost the traces of its history as the evacuee department renovated the building instead of preserving it. 

He said that ancient monuments of Hazara like that of the last Turk king Sultan Mehmood Khurd at Gullibagh in Mansehra and Abbot House in Abbottabad were in dire need of preservation. 

Source: Dawn [January 08, 2012]