MIANWALI: The centuries-old graveyard of the city has turned into a garbage dump due to the alleged carelessness of the sanitary staff and negligence of the municipal committee (MC).

The historical graveyard is spread nearly over a kilometre in width starting from the Yarokhel locality to Wattakhel. Prominent tribes of the city own a certain portion of the graveyard surrounded by a boundary where they bury their deceased. The rest of the area is for the general public.

On the western side of city vast pond area spread at the banks of river Indus started adjacent to graveyard and the municipality staff drops garbage collected from all over the city into the graveyard instead of the pond area situated at a stone’s throw from here.

Relatives of the deceased have requested the MC and district administration several times to remove the garbage and carcasses from the graveyard, but to no avail.

Several graves have been buried under heaps of filth, which reflects a sorry state of affairs.

Until just a few months ago, the graveyard was also covered with grown natural bushes that had become a haven for narcotics dealers and addicts, but a local philanthropist donated some money to clear them.

Talking to Dawn, Mianwali MC Chairman Haji Abdul Karim said he was aware of the problem and was arranging bulldozers to remove the garbage.

He said he would start a campaign to clean the graveyard but could not give a timeframe for its completion. He claimed he had instructed the sanitary staff to avoid dumping garbage in the graveyard but lamented his orders were not being implemented.

Local philanthropist Haji Muhammad Shafi told Dawn that it took him months to rid the graveyard of drug addicts and other criminals by having the bushes uprooted. He urged the chief minister to take notice of the affairs by providing funds for a boundary wall of the graveyard and accord due respect to the deceased.

Deputy Commissioner Shozab Saeed told Dawn he was aware of the deplorable condition of the main graveyard and he was arranging for equipment to remove garbage for the graveyard.

He added he had also instructed the MC chairman in this regard.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2018