Coins, artifacts from two museums still not traced

• PAC body expresses displeasure over FIA’s response

 Centuries-old coins and artifacts stolen in the past from two museums are still not recovered mainly due to slack response of departments concerned, while the culprits allegedly involved in the crime has exonerated from the courts.

Official documents available with Pakistan Today disclosed that theft of precious 40 coins was done in Karachi’s National Museum during May 25-26, 1986 and antique items, comprising 61 metal objects of Buddhist civilisation were stolen during December 16-17, 1999 from the Taxila Museum.

First Information Reports (FIRs) of the two cases were registered in respective areas of the museum against the police officials who were on duty. However, so far there is no retrieval of antique coins and precious metal objects (metal, copper and bronze) of Buddhist civilisation. Also, the culprits allegedly involved in the theft successfully got bails as the courts gave them benefits of doubt and they (culprits) are nowadays roaming freely.

Both the cases are pending in the courts. Ironically, the police, museum managements of the National Museum, and the Taxila Museum, FIA and Public Accounts Committees have so far made no success to be mentioned here regarding the recovery of billion rupees worth coins and antiques.

Managements of two museums hold police responsible of the two crimes of theft of antiques/artifacts. According the managements of said museums, since the establishment of the museum, security of building from 16:00 (closing hours) to 08:30 (opening hours) was the sole responsibility of the police department. Also, when none else except police guards were on watch and ward duty in the museums therefore, the police guard posted there was responsible.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) despite repeated efforts of above 15 years has so far made no concrete progress though it took up matter in 2002. The committee has given repeated directions to the provincial police to take quick and appropriate action/measure for retrieval of the lost precious 40 coins and 61 metal objects of Buddhist civilisation, which were discovered during filed investigation of the remains of the Taxila in the year 1913-14.

The PAC has so far convened many meetings to conclude the two cases but all efforts remained in vain. Even, time and again it has directed the FIA to expedite the process of investigation in the above cases. But, FIA has also made no remarkable job in this regard as it did not pursue the cases vigorously.

A meeting of the PAC Monitoring and Implementation Committee held on March 29 has expressed displeasure over no response from FIA and directed to write a directive order (DO) Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan over slack response from FIA. This committee has also directed to write a letter to the Punjab chief minister to help assist in the recovery of 40 antique coins, comprising 19 gold, 15 silver and six of copper.

The committee has also directed to write letter to the Advocate General Punjab to play role towards. Similarly, the National Museum of Karachi has so far only written letters to ICOM, UNESCO vide letter 28-05-1986 and sought help in the issue. The management of the museum also approached the International Association of Museum (IAM) and sent specifications of stolen items.

The management got registration of FIR in the police station, Artillery Maidan, Karachi. But, Sindh police found no clue of lost coins. Moreover, the management of the Taxila Museum has so far failed to recover the precious stolen artifacts. An FIA was lodged and case filed in the court against policemen.

The alleged policemen were exonerated by the court by giving them benefit of doubt. At present, an appeal case is pending with the High Court Rawalpindi against the decision of the civil court regarding exoneration of the police guards.