HYDERABAD: A new encroachment has surfaced at the protected tomb of Mian Ghulam Nabi Kalhoro, a declared heritage site under the Sindh Antiquities Act, 1975.
The Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Sindh, has reported that a local resident has restarted construction activities within the protected premises of the monument. In an official letter issued from Pucca Fort, Hyderabad, the Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department, Government of Sindh, informed the assistant commissioner (City) about the fresh encroachment.
According to the department, the resident has constructed a boundary wall and installed a main iron gate on the western side of the tomb, where a ladies’ burial chamber (Tajjar) exists. Officials said the same illegal structure had earlier been demolished with the assistance of the district administration in December 2018, but the encroacher has now reoccupied the area and resumed construction.
Assistant Director Sindhu Chandio, while sharing photographs of the site, stated that the images clearly show illegal occupation of the Tajjar and the installation of an iron gate. She emphasized that the construction is a clear violation of the Sindh Antiquities Act and poses a serious threat to the preservation of the historic monument. The department has requested the district administration to immediately stop and remove the illegal construction to protect the heritage site from further damage.
Talking to The News International, Sindhu Chandio said Mian Ghulam Nabi Kalhoro belonged to the family that founded Hyderabad, and his tomb is a national heritage site that some individuals are attempting to occupy illegally.
On Friday, the assistant commissioner (city) visited the site and observed several facts. Officials noted that a small ladies’ tomb chamber is located in a residential area on the western side of the main tomb complex. The tomb structure appears to be attached edge-to-edge with a house and is surrounded by three residential buildings, each two to three storeys high.
It was further observed that the ladies’ tomb does not have direct access to the main tomb of Mian Ghulam Nabi Kalhoro and seems to be in possession of adjacent house owners. However, officials of the culture department present at the site denied any private ownership and maintained that the ladies’ burial chamber is part of the protected antiquities.
The current complaint, according to the AC, pertains to one of the house owners installing a gate as part of their residential structure. The residents have claimed ownership of their houses and stated that they possess valid property documents.
The assistant commissioner has issued notices to the adjacent house owners and occupiers to produce ownership documents, while the Mukhtiarkar Hyderabad City has been directed to submit the official land record for verification. Sindhu Chandio reiterated that the ladies buried at the site fall under the jurisdiction of the Antiquities Department and must be protected in accordance with heritage laws.
