KARACHI, March 3: A comprehensive list of the books and antiquities kept at the archaeology department's exploration and excavation branch in Karachi was submitted in the Sindh High Court on Wednesday.
Producing the list of about 21,231 books and 150,000 pieces of antiquity excavated from a number of historical sites in the country, Deputy Attorney-General Nadeem Azhar Siddiqui said not a single item was intended to be shifted from Karachi.
The federal government and its ministry of culture, who own the books and the antiquities, however, reserve their right to temporarily transfer them for display and exhibition.
The list was ordered to be produced by the high court on a writ petition moved by former municipal administrator Fahim Zaman Khan and seven other public-spirited citizens, including archaeologists, in May 2002 against an official move to transfer the archaeology director-general's office from Karachi together with the central archaeological library and antiquities housed by the department's exploration and excavation branch. The impugned decision was suspended by the high court on May 16, 2003.
The petition came up before a division bench comprising Justices Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Gulzar Ahmed on Wednesday. It asked the federal attorney to furnish a copy of the list to the petitioners' counsel, Syed Iqbal Haider, and adjourned further proceedings to March 18.
Impleading the federal and provincial governments and Unesco as respondents, the petitioners said the shifting of the library and the antiquities from their present location at Hafiz Plaza, Shahrah-i-Faisal, Karachi, (opposite the archaeology DG's office), had surfaced from time to time.
It was last mooted in 1995-96 on the pretext of 'inadequate premises and facilities' and the KMC offered to accommodate them in Frere Hall. However, it was finally decided in 1996 by all concerned that status quo should be maintained and that shifting would be against the national interest, provincial autonomy and fundamental rights of the people of the province.
In 1998, meanwhile, it was decided to transfer to the provinces the protected sites of archaeological and heritage importance, including libraries and antiquities.
The petition said the decision was being pursued when a move to shift the archaeology office, books and antiquities again came to light in May 2002. In fact, the shifting process had already been initiated and formal instructions issued early in May 2002.
A vigorous campaign against the move followed and was joined in by the provincial government.
The federal government came out with a clarification under popular pressure but the petitioners found it evasive and 'deceptive'. While denying the move, the petitioners pointed out, the clarification underscored 'avoidable difficulties and expenditure' in maintaining the DG's office outside the federal capital.
It also emphasized that the library was not meant for use by the general public and was intended for official use. It also unnecessarily denied shifting of the National Museum objects while the impugned move involved antiquities kept at Hafiz Plaza.
In its parawise comments, the ministry of culture emphasized its ownership of the library and antiquities. It said 'the protected sites' were yet to be categorized for the purpose of transfer to the provinces.
As a matter of policy, all head offices are supposed to be in the federal capital and no infringement of provincial autonomy was involved. The petition was based on 'confidential' official correspondence, which was not permissible, the ministry said.
After stating what it considered to be the legal position in favour of shifting, the ministry, however, categorically stated that 'the respondents are not in the process of packing of books and antiquities'. A final decision had not been taken and status quo was being maintained, it said.
