BAHAWALPUR: The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) defused the five live mortar shells recovered from a deserted portion of the Sadiq Garh Palace,

once the abode of late Nawab of Bahwalpur, Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi-V, at Dera Nawab Sahib, about 40kms from here.

The century-old palace’s historic building, which now stood split up in various portions after its division among the descendents of the late Nawab, faced decay due to the apathy of its present owners.

Dawn has learnt that on a tip-off, Dera Nawab police rushed to the scene and found a sack packed with five mortar shells, which were presumed to be live.

This created panic among the building residents.

The police immediately called BDS personnel to the scene who, according to the district police Public Relations Officer Rehan Gilani, defused the shells.

The police sources said it appeared that the shells belonged to the armament depot of the defunct army of the late Nawab that remained buried under the heaps of trees’ leaves and garbage on the palace premises.

The late Nawab’s army had been active till the merger of Bahawalpur State with the then Pakistan’s One-Unit before 1955.

However, so far, this could not be ascertain that to which period the recovered mortar shells belonged.

Published in Dawn January 26th , 2015

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