TAXILA, Nov 17: High-ups of the Department of Archaeology and Museums have hushed up an inquiry that found an official guilty of removing a marble slab from the floor of Shahi Takht at Shish Mahal in Lahore and later gifting it to a representative of an international cultural organization to get undue favour.

Sources in the department's regional office told this correspondent that according to the inquiry report, Director North Saleemul Haq had removed 17"X13" marble slab with pieta dura patterns from the floor of Shahi Takht and gifted it to one of the senior official of an international cultural organization on her transfer from Pakistan.

In return, the sources said, the director was appointed national project coordinator of this international agency with attractive remuneration package. They said it was astonishing that after assuming the responsibilities with the international agency remained affiliated with the department and continued receiving financial benefits from both offices in violation of government rules and regulations.

The sources said this serious irregularity, misappropriation of national cultural heritage and gifting of a priceless piece taken from a monument, which is on the list of world cultural heritage for preservation, was also mentioned in the report of Pak-Norad-Unesco project.

They said the incident was also notified by Assistant Archaeological Engineer Tanweer through a written complaint on which the Ministry of Culture ordered a probe into the matter through a letter (No. F-4-12/ 2004-A-1 dated 14-5-2004).

The case was immediately investigated and found correct after inspection of the site by a high-level probe committee. The probe team also recorded statements of some of the junior officials concerned, which established that the marble slab was criminally removed by the director.

The sources said no action had so far been taken by the relevant authorities due to reasons best known to them, despite the fact that the inquiry report was submitted six months ago. They said some of the department officials tasked with protecting ancient sites in the country had become 'treasure hunters'.