November 11, 2007	Sunday	Shawwal 29, 1428

THATTA, Nov 10: A pre-Islamic period stupa collapsed here at Makli incline on Saturday due to alleged negligence of the archaeology department of Thatta.

The picturesque structure, a unique formation of yellow carved stones with various portraits of people, was mounted along the foundation ruins of a Shiv Mandir at the old Makli incline.

According to Prof Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi, Secretary General of Thatta Historical and Cultural Society, the stupa had been named after a staunch religious community “Menkila or Mingla” and the name of Makli Hills was also a refined adoption of the name Menkila.

During the compilation of historic book “Makli Nama” by Pir Husamuddin Rashdi, G.M. Syed had suggested to the author in letter to include the facts about Menkila and the author preferably reported the letter in preface of the book.

During Talpur dynasty in Sindh the stupa was about to cave in, but the British rulers restored the beauty of this marvellous structure.

Sensing the mounting danger to the structure and frequent detachment of relic stones from the stupa by relic thieves, Dr Manjhi said, he had personally approached the curator of archaeology department and even offered contributions from well-to-do people to save the monument but the officials paid no heed, with the result that the historic stupa collapsed.

The people have lost a picturesque monument which was bound to disappear if no official turned up to restore it, he added.

ARRESTED: Police have arrested Aziz Pakhiaro, President of PPP Thatta city. The police also raided the residence of former PPP MPA, Ghulam Qadir Palijo at Makli, who was out of town.