MULTAN: The tombs of Mazari chiefs at the historic family graveyard ‘Handira Garh’ at Rojhan Mazari are in dilapidated condition despite their archaeological importance, Dawn has learnt.

The city of Rojhan has two graveyards -- Handira Garh and Eidgah graveyard. The historical graveyard is located on the bank of the Indus River in Rojhan Sharqi and is about 300 years old.

“The people started to bury their loved ones at the new graveyard when the Indus River eroded the graves of the old graveyard several times,” says researcher Ismail Mazari.

The first person buried at the new graveyard was Muhammad Hussain Khan Mazari, the grandfather of former MPA the late Atif Khan Mazari. Now every sub-caste of the Mazari tribe has their own graveyard,” said Ismail Mazari.

He said that all graves of the old graveyard had been eroded by the Indus River and vanished.

“These ruined and dilapidated tombs are the last sign of the old graveyard,” he said. He demanded that the archeology department rehabilitate the tombs.

Punjab Archeology Department in charge Malik Ghulam Muhammad said he has visited the old graveyard.

“There are seven major tombs and one old mosque. They are not protected under the Special Premises (Preservation) Ordinance, 1985. The tombs of Sardar Mir Hammal Khan and Sardar Sir Mir Behram Khan Mazari have been destroyed and only some debris of salt-affected bricks are available at site,” he said.

He said that the tomb of Sardar Imam Bakhsh Khan Mazari is square in plan with corner square glazed kashi tiles minarets rest on a platform of the same height of Imam Bakhsh Tomb.“The exterior of the tomb is decorated with dressed brick and glazed kashi tiles in various designs. Terracotta flowers design pieces are used with bricks for diagonal square design. The interior of the tomb is decorated with fresco painting and the roof of the tomb is with wooden ceiling Terseem bandi design and decorated with floral painting. There are three graves inside the tomb on a platform with marble jalies. The tomb is in much dilapidated condition and needs to be restored immediately,” he said.

He said the tomb of Sardar Sher Muhammad Khan Mazari is also square in plan with corner square glazed kashi tiles minarets rest on a the platform of the same height of Imam Bakhsh Tomb.

— Dawn photos
— Dawn photos

“This tomb also has four openings without the traditional mehrab. The exterior of this tomb is decorated with dressed brick and glazed kashi tiles in various designs. Yellow Kashi tiles are used on various places of the tomb. Terracotta flowers design pieces used with bricks for diagonal square design. The interior of the tomb is also decorated with fresco painting and the roof of the tomb has a wooden ceiling Terseem bandi design and is decorated with floral painting. There are three graves inside the tomb on a platform with marble net. The tomb is in much dilapidated condition and needs restoration immediately,” he said.

He said the tomb of Sardar Dost Ali Khan Mazari is square in plan, measuring 33ft on each side from its exterior and 28.5 ft from its interior. The tomb has four openings while the exterior is decorated with dressed brick and terracotta flowers design pieces used with bricks for diagonal square design. Double layer of cut and dressed brick merlon provided in the tomb, the stone under roof level and the other as parapet. The interior of the tomb is decorated with fresco painting and the roof of the tomb is of wooden ceiling Terseem bandi design and is decorated with floral painting.

“The tomb of Sardar Gullan Khan Mazari is square in a plan measuring 26ft each side from its interior and 34ft from its exterior with a boundary wall and entrance deorhi. The entire boundary wall is missing. The tomb has four openings without traditional mihrab. The exterior of the tomb is decorated with dressed brick and glazed Kashi tiles in various designs. Terracotta flowers design pieces are used with bricks for diagonal square design. The interior of the tomb is decorated with fresco painting and the roof of the tomb is of wooden ceiling Terseem bandi design and decorated with floral painting but at present the roof of the tomb has fallen and the northern wall of the tomb is also missing,” he said.

He said the tomb of Sardar Tillo Khan is square in plan measuring 33.25ft on each side from its exterior and 25.75ft from its interior with square corner minarets. The tomb is resting on a platform about six feet high. The tomb has four openings without traditional mihrab. The exterior of the tomb is decorated with cut-dressed brick with recessed panels of various designs. The panels are decorated with fresco paintings. The parapet of the tomb is lime plastered and decorated with fresco painting and the minarets of the tomb are also decorated with fresco. The interior walls of the tomb are decorated with fresco painting and the roof of the tomb is of wooden ceiling Terseem bandi design and decorated with floral painting.

“The mosque was built in the same era as the tombs. It is rectangular in plan measuring 39ft x 27.75 ft from its exterior and 30.75ft x 14.5 ft from its interior and courtyard 36.75 ft x22.5 ft with a dome and two vault roof bays on the sides of the dome. It was built with small size burnt bricks and lime plastered inside and the façade of the mosque is also decorated with fresco painting, brick imitation work, and glazed merlons. The dome of the mosque is also lime plastered. Interior arches of the mosque are in a very dangerous condition and local people provided pillars for support.” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2021

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