25 December 2004	Saturday	12 Ziqa'ad 1425

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NEW YORK, Dec 24: The United States customs authorities have intercepted a container of valuable Pakistani artefacts destined for an art collector in New York , including several priceless Buddha figurines, busts and other Gandhara art objects, at the Newark port in New Jersey.

The container which arrived here on Wednesday was shipped from Dubai. Sale or smuggling of treasures of national heritage from any country is a crime under the United States law and the United Nations Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

According to Pakistan's Consul-General here, Haroon Shaukat, he was informed about the container by the US customs and immigrations investigation unit and he informed the ambassador in Washington and the authorities in Pakistan.

Embassy officials are expected to ask the state department to conduct an investigation into the smuggling. "These artefacts are priceless and are the property of Pakistani people. We want them to be returned to Pakistan," he said.

He said the authorities in Pakistan should give top priority to investigating the matter. Customs authorities declined to identify the consignee and the shipper.