The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday directed the Culture & Heritage department to inform what the actual covered area of the heritage Chowkandi graveyard was within 15 days.
The SHC bench headed by Justice Irfan Saadat was hearing a petition filed by NGO Raah-e-Rast Trust, who moved the court seeking preservation of the historic graveyard located near National Highway.
On Monday’s hearing, the survey superintendent appeared before the court and informed it that the graveyard covers up 25.4 acres of land, which was opposed by the petitioner’s counsel. According to the petitioner, the historical heritage site is spread over 57 acres of land.
The court directed the Culture & Heritage Department to resolve the issue regarding the area of the graveyard and furnish a report within 15 days.
The petitioner submitted that Chowkandi graveyard was built between the 15th to 18th century and it has been declared as historical heritage. It is the family graveyard of the Jhokio tribe and some other Baloch tribes are buried there.
Raah-e-Rast Trust submitted that the present condition of the graveyard is poor; it is very dilapidated and lacks proper boundary walls. “The people from the surroundings have removed the stones and bricks from the original structures to use them to decorate their own houses or shops,” the trust submitted.
According to the petitioner, some part of the graveyard has been encroached on by influential people, who are using it for commercial activities.
Citing the Culture & Heritage department, Malir Development Authority and others as respondents, the Raah-e-Rast trust prayed to the court to direct the respondents to look after and maintain the heritage.
The court was further requested to direct the respondents to remove encroachments from the area that is reserved for the Chowkandi graveyard.
