Conservation: Heritage at the front lines

Being a student of archaeology I am in the habit of comparing the past with the present and somehow end up thinking that the ancient people were more advanced, sophisticated, civilised and intellectually sound.

The region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has gone through many difficult stages of history. Alexander ravaged it coming all the way from Macedonia; the Scythians and the Kushans from Central Asia too wreaked havoc on the entire region. But then there were some amazing times too when KP was the centre of propagation for peace through Buddhism. One of the first universities of the world was constructed here (Takht-i-Bahi and Taxila) and eventually this place became the seat of learning. Students from all over the Buddhist world came to learn sutras, religion, languages and other sciences (the phenomenon which modern day educationists call internationalisation).

The origin of the Indus Valley civilisation can be traced back to ancient KP that later on gifted the world the science of civil engineering and town planning. The emergence of Hinduism can easily be traced from this very region. Until recent times, this province was the centre of multicultural activities (internationalisation), and I am sure that all this happened because of good governance, administration and
through sincere commitment practiced by the ancient people.

Pakistan is blessed with various natural and cultural resources which include a rich history too. There are approximately 5,000 archaeological sites only in KP (many others have not been explored yet in other provinces). Despite extraordinary wonders, which perhaps we do not deserve because we have not learnt from our glorious past nor do we feel proud of our cultural heritage, the country has never capitalised on its glorious assets and as a result is facing many problems and turmoil. Another factor is bad governance.

Kohat historical sites turning into ruins

Most historical places in Kohat are in an absolute shambles due to the archeology department’s neglect.

Many artefacts, including carved stones, marble tiles and statues, are taken away possibly by smugglers for a better price abroad.

Not long ago, the government had planned preservation of these places and sent in archeological experts for survey. However, the plan didn’t enter the execution phase.

Among these sites listed by the erstwhile federal tourism ministry are caves from Aad and Samud dynasty, Kohat springs visited by Baba Guru Nanak, Zinda Pir shrine, Kohat Fort, Cavagnari House, Guava Gardens, hilly track, Teri ashram and Hindu Bazaar, Handy Side Gate, Toi Banda rest house, Khushal Garh rest house, a 16th century mosque in Shahpur village, grave of former West Pakistan chief justice M. R. Kayani, palaces of emperor Durrani and his princes, Dhoda ground, where emperor Zahiruddin Babar camped on his way to India, eight out of 12 gates of the Walled City and Khushal Garh iron bridge.

During a visit, Dawn found the Durrani graveyard and the ruins of Aad and Samud without precious tiles, gravestones, coins and statues. A few are rebuilt by caretakers.

Sethi House reopens for tourists

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Archaeology, Museums, Sports and Youth Affairs Syed Aqil Shah on Friday inaugurated the renovated Sethi House and declared its lower portion open for the visitors.
Secretary Archeology and Museums Syed Jamaluddin Shah, Director Archeology Dr Shah Nazar, Ms Farida Nishtar and Ghulam Dastagir Sethi were also present. Sethi House had been built in 1884 and the present government had issued funds for its renovation. The renovation work on its lower portion has been completed.

Syed Aqil Shah said the street from main road to Sethi House would be developed and the whole Sethi Mohallah would be made a hub of tourists. He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was full of tourist attraction sites, including Gandhara and Buddhist civilisations.
He said soon tour packages would come to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the whole country and the visitors would witness worth seeing sites, including the Sethi House. Syed Aqil Shah said Gor Gathri would be

Minister’s fake degree case: Peshawar judge stopped from giving verdict

he Peshawar High Court on Wednesday stopped the provincial capital’s district and sessions judge from pronouncing judgment in the fake degree case against provincial sports minister Aqil Shah until the relevant court decided his petition against the private educational institution that awarded him the graduation degree.The minister is accused of being involved in corrupt practices by producing fake degree for taking part in the 2008 elections.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Irshad Qaiser directed sessions judge Shaibar Khan to continue with the trial but not to pronounce the verdict for three months.
At the same time, it also decided to formally request the Lahore High Court chief justice to direct the relevant senior civil judge for giving a verdict in three months on the minister’s lawsuit against American International College, Lahore, which had
awarded him graduation degree despite being unrecognised by Higher Education Commission.
The bench issued the order while hearing a petition of Mr Aqil, who pleaded that he had already filed a civil suit with the civil judge in Lahore against the educational institution and until decision in that suit, the district and sessions judge might be restrained from continuing with the trial.
The district and sessions judge had indicted Mr Aqil on Nov 1 on a complaint of the regional election commissioner (REC), who requested the court that a case of the commission of corrupt practice had prima facie been made out against Mr Aqil and therefore, action might be taken against him in accordance with law.
Mr Shah had pleaded not guilty and claimed that he had submitted only one degree issued by American International College, Lahore with his nomination papers and had never submitted any other degree or documents.

Govt orders protection of archaeological sites

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has issued order to protect 44 out of 91 archaeological sites that were handed over to the province under the 18th Amendment.
Archaeology and Museums Director Prof Shah Nazar Khan said that the protection order was issued under the Protection Order and Antiquity Act 1997 about the sites that were handed over to the province after devolution of the department.
He said that the sites about which the protection order was issued included Butkara-1, Parn, Saidu Stupa, Najigram, Nimogram, Amlukdara Stupa, Dangram Stupa, Shingardara Stupa, Shnasha Stupa, Gogdara rock carving, Udegram Castle, Butkara-III and Cumbatuna in Barikot, Swat district.
Mr Khan said that World Heritage Site Takht Bhai and Jamal Garhi, Sehri Behlol, Tareli, Chanaka Dheri, Asoka rock edicts, Kashmir Smast cave and Charguli Dheri in Mardan and Hisar Dheri in Charsadda would also be protected.
In Peshawar, he said, Gorkhattree, Kotala Mohsin Khan, Mohallah Sethian, Dilazak Tomb and the tomb and mosque of Sheikh Imamuddin would be protected under the order.
The official said that Shithial rock carvings in Kohistan, Ranighat site in Buner, tomb of Syed Ahmad Shaheed, tomb of Ismail Shaheed, Ashoka rock edicts and Zaro Dheri in Mansehra while Tofikian Mound, Jandial, Sirsukh, Piplan, Badalpur, Garian (Lal Chack Stupa), Bhamala Buddhist site in Haripur and Asota Megaliths and Hund Fort in Swabi district would be protected under the newly-issued order.
Mr Khan said that those sites were transferred in the revenue record to the province and the record was being checked for the rest of 47 archaeological sites, which would also be handed over to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Protection order for the remaining sites would also be issued once they were handed over to the province through legal documents, the official said. Along with the preservation and protection of the archaeological sites, the Archaeology and Museums Directorate started research work on the 1900-year-old Aziz Dheri in Swabi district, he said.
The archaeologists and students of University of Peshawar and Hazara University under the supervision of Prof Mohammad Naeem Qazi and Arshad Mughal would undertake the research project.