LAHORE, July 9: After failing to find out gold from a haveli in Kasur on an informer’s clue on Saturday last, the Punjab and federal archaeology departments now plan to excavate in the next week another place about 200 yards from the site.
The Punjab and federal archaeology departments in league with police conducted an operation in Kasur in search of gold on receiving an information by a person, who claims himself to be a former employee of the provincial prisons department.
The informer reportedly filed an application with the chief secretary and the Punjab archaeology director-general, claiming that gold ornaments weighing about five maunds were buried under three places in Kasur, Lahore and Jhang.
The Punjab Archaeology Department, which was not authorized to go for excavation, sought the federal archaeology department’s help. It also informed the police high-ups, who ensured their support in taking up the task.
A team comprising the officials of the Punjab and federal archaeology departments reached Kasur on July 5 to dig out gold. It dug about 13 feet down at a haveli known as Paki in Mustafabad, but failed to find anything. Residents of the area anxiously witnessed the operation.
A visiting federal archaeology department member, requesting anonymity, told Dawn on Wednesday that during digging local MPA and MNA reached there and inquired about the work. Meanwhile, Ameer Malik, who identified himself as the owner of the haveli, asked them to leave his place.
The official said there were also rumours that they had taken away gold from the place. The locals, he said, were much excited, and had they discovered something, there would have been a scene of turmoil.
Quoting the informer, the official said the haveli belonged to Sikhs at the time of partition. He said his uncle, mason by profession, had told him about gold.
The informer reportedly demanded 20 per cent share if the precious metal was found, but the archaeology department turned down the request, saying he would be entitled (to the treasure) according to the Treasure Trove Act.
Ameer Malik, in the meanwhile, moved court on July 2 against the Kasur SSP and an official of the archaeology department for damaging his crops in search of gold.
Meanwhile, another informer claiming himself a commercial pilot wrote to the culture and information secretary that the archaeologists had dug the wrong place, which was 200 yards from the actual treasure. The man also claimed that gold was hidden at Kahna, Lahore.
Keeping the hopes alive, the archaeology departments have planned to excavate the identified place after July 15.
According to a senior archaeologist, this is a unique case as the department has never tackled such issues the way it is dealing now. In the past, the department, whenever received such information, first investigated and then conducted a survey.