The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government always tries its level best to obtain the artefacts and sculptures, employing all legal ways and means. Soon after the Karachi incident a four-member committee was constituted, with the aim to trace the origin of the relics, their market value and the gang of smugglers involved. The archaeologists’ team comprises Prof Nidaullah Sehrai, Dr Abdus Samad, Farid Khan, Faizur Rahman and Fawad Khan who visited Karachi to later submit their findings to the government.

Syed Aqil Shah, provincial minister for tourism, museums, archaeology, sports and youth affairs, is of the view that KP is the centre of Gandhara civilisation and the antiquities should be handed over to the provincial directorate of archaeology and museums. Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti has also raised the issue with his Sindh counterpart.

Nevertheless, the Sindh government authorities and archaeologists have turned down the demand of the KP government, with the additional secretary culture, Ashfaq Mausvi, claiming that the Gandhara civilisation remains have also been found in Khirthar range and other parts of Sindh. Supporting the same idea, celebrated archaeologist, Ishtiaq Ansari said that Sindh had also been the abode of the Gandhara civilisation and the ashes of Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism are buried in Kahu Jo Daro, Mirpurkhas.

The claim of both the Sindh and KP governments as the owner of the recovered antiquities has already caused a silent row. The issue is delicate and an extraordinary skill and expertise is needed to trace the origin of the seized artefacts.  — M. K.