*Land mafia, allegedly backed by ruling politicians, has occupied a Shikarpur hospital which has been declared ‘protected heritage’
The lack of government writ and fear of law enforcers has encouraged a land mafia to occupy an eye hospital in Shikarpur which has been declared a national heritage site. The gravity of the situation was brought into the notice of the authorities concerned of the district administration, police and the Culture Department by writers, political activists and members of civil society of Shikarpur, but to no avail.
Sources said a powerful land mafia backed by ruling politicians have occupied a cultural property – Sir Henry Holland Eye Hospital Shikarpur – which is also declared as “Protected Heritage” by Culture Department, Government of Sindh.
It is well known to the students of history, culture and archaeology that Shikarpur has a splendid background of history, culture and civilization including matchless classical building works which make it stand in the list of historical cities of the sub-continent.
Keeping in view the heritage value of Shikarpur city, the Culture Department’s Notification No. CHC / CTS /&YAD /1-4 /98 dated 8-8-1998, declared the whole city of Shikarpur, including houses constructed up to 1950, and its wood and iron works as “protected heritage” as defined in Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act 1994.
Further, the Government of Sindh with a view to curb tendency of people particularly the land mafia of destroying/defacing/altering etc the classical properties of cultural heritage in Shikarpur, issued a notification No.SO-I (CD) 4-49/2012, dated 12-03-2012, declaring Shikarpur a “Historic City” and “protected heritage” and making all intentional acts to destroy, injure, alter, deface etc the protected heritage a crime, punishable under Section 18 of the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994.
The relevant part of notification states, “Any intentional act to destroy, injure, alter, deface and imperil the Protected Heritage or to build on or near the sites will be unlawful, and punishable under Section 18 of the Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994.”
The recent case of illegal occupation is that of Sir Henry Holland Eye Hospital Shikarpur, built by a philanthropist, Shri Hiranand Mendha, in 1909 as a charity hospital.
In 1976, some Hindu merchants by mutual consent conditionally handed over the hospital to a Christian missionary and got it registered as a Trust through Evacuee Property Trust Board and it was also renamed as Sir Henry Holland Missionary Eye Hospital. Since then, the institute has been working under the trust to serve the noble cause which the originators had in mind.
Apart from its philanthropic aspect, the institute holds a monumental building which is fabulous model of architecture for having classical archaeological structure and design.
Taking into consideration the cultural importance of the edifice, the Culture and Tourism Department, Government of Sindh has declared it national heritage enlisting it as protected heritage within the meaning of Sub Section (I) of Section 6 of Sindh Cultural Heritage (Preservation) Act, 1994.
Sources claimed that the Christian trustees unlawfully sold out the hospital to a land mafia for their personal financial interests and the building has till now been partially destroyed and the land is being utilised unlawfully for commercial use to construct a market there, which is clear violation of the above mentioned notification of the Government of Sindh.
The writers, political activists and members of civil society of Shikarpur, have requested the Sindh chief minister, Sindh governor, minister of culture department and other government functionaries to take notice of the issue and stop further demolishment of the premises and illegal construction of shops in the said premises to save the “precious cultural heritage of Sindh and an institute of public charity”.
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