BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab Archaeology Department has almost completed the rehabilitation and restoration of the historic Chitti Masjid at Rahim Yar Khan’s Khanpur tehsil at a cost of about Rs20 million.

Archaeology department’s Sub-Divisional Officer, Bahawalpur, Sajjad Ahmed told Dawn that work on the restoration was taken in hand in 2020 and it’s near completion. He said the mosque was built by the late Nawab Ikhtiar Khan during his rule some time around third quarter of 18th century. It is situated at Qadirpur village in Khanpur tehsil.

The mosque had three bays. The central one was almost square in plan measuring 18x19 feet and six inches while two on north and south sides are smaller. There are three entrances set within pishtaq and each entrance is set within rectangular frames.

Owing to a lack of attention to the preservation and restoration of the mosque in the past, the old brick masonry, woodwork and lime plaster etc. were decayed with the passage of time. The domes and vault roofs were absent and south wall of main chamber also collapsed.

He said that keeping in view its historical and architectural significance, it was declared “special premises” under the Punjab Special Premises (Preservation) Ordinance, 1985 in 2019. The Punjab government took positive steps for the structural consolidation and restoration of the mosque. Now, most parts of the main chamber and gateway had been consolidated and lime plaster and fresco works were near completion, he said.

According to a brief history, Ikhtiar Khan took the possession of Garhi Shadi Khan during the declining years of Kalhora in Sindh in 1753 and named it Garhi Ikhtiar Khan. Ikhtiar Khan Mandhani at that time settled in Mauza (village) Gondhi. He belonged to Mandhani Daudpotras who derived their name from Mandhu Khan, a pious Muslim. He constructed several mosques Garhi Ikhtiar Khan 1, Chanjni, Ghauspur 2, and Trinda Madhu Khan.

He also excavated a canal Ikhtiar Wah to irrigate the lands around Garhi Ikhtiar Khan 3.

According to Sub-e-Sadiq, when the canal got completed, he announced that the opening ceremony would be performed by the person who had not left any prayer during the youth. After the announcement no one came forward, therefore, he himself came forward and performed the opening ceremony. It is also mentioned that he used to offer tahajud without any interruption.

The most important feature of this mosque is the entrance structure located at a distance of 42 feet 9 inches on the east sides of the mosque, thus forming courtyard in between the two structures.

The entrance structure comprised three rooms with independent door on the east and west sides. The central room served as the main entrance foyer. A staircase 3ft 3 inches wide was set within southern wall of the central room and leads to the first floor.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2022