This is not my view, its the argument given by PPP and as you mentioned its upto archaeologists to decide whats dangerous for the site. PPP is giving assurances for ‘no damage’ and I don’t think that they would take a risk of destroying these ruins because it will ultimately affect their ethnic card, if God forbid any mishap happens at site.
PS: Sindh High Court didn’t issue a Stay Order and they also came with same ‘if no danger is assured’ type order for the matter and thats why it has been inaugurated at Moen Jo Daro.
PS2: Moen jo Daro is in crtical conditions since long… We have been crying on destruction of Budhas of Bamiyan for long, but no one raised voice for Moen jo Daro. I think its a blessing in disguise that PPP took this decision. I’m yet to see who has to carry this concern in future, as I feel its more about dissing political rivals than actual concern for sites.
*This is not my view, its the argument given by PPP and as you mentioned its upto archaeologists to decide whats dangerous for the site. PPP is giving assurances for 'no damage' and I don't think that they would take a risk of destroying these ruins because it will ultimately affect their ethnic card, if God forbid any mishap happens at site. *
PS: Sindh High Court didn't issue a Stay Order and they also came with same 'if no danger is assured' type order for the matter and thats why it has been inaugurated at Moen Jo Daro.
PS2: Moen jo Daro is in crtical conditions since long... We have been crying on destruction of Budhas of Bamiyan for long, but no one raised voice for Moen jo Daro. I think its a blessing in disguise that PPP took this decision. I'm yet to see who has to carry this concern in future, as I feel its more about dissing political rivals than actual concern for sites.
I don't you have paid much attention to what the archeologists have actually said. It's not the question of PPP "destroying" the site by putting up a stage (of course they weren't going to do that), it's the legitimate of concern how all that sound and lighting could further damage and escalate the deterioration of the delicate site. And this is what the archeologists decided, PPP would've earned some genuinely positive feedback and goodwill had they genuinely respected the concerns of archeologists. The Preservation of heritage is all about being proactive and doing the maximum to reduce the environmental damage. I'm sorry you are seeing these legitimate concern as political point scoring, but in case it makes any difference, I thank the PPP for creating this controversy and bringing some attention the archeological rules and ethics. :)
Even a hardcore PPP supporter in this thread has admitted that PPP would've had no issues attracting a large crowd and representing Moenjodaro even if the stage wasn't built on the site.
He was just giving reference which is normally used in envy, hatred or jealousy by someone so nothing wrong here. However I have never heard that Hazrat Ali ever used as Ali ibn Abi Talib, as Abu Talib died as unbeliever even so much requests by Mohammad PBUH while his favorite unlce was on death bed.
I know there is nothing wrong with his message. The point was that he used wrong example. Nobody is 'jealous' or envied of Muawiyah. So 'Bughz e Muawiyah' is a wrong term. If anything it is always 'Bughz e Ali' which makes people go astray.
Your logic of not calling Imam Ali as Ali ibn Abi Talib, is simply pitiful. Just think before typing. I don't think even Homo Erectus would say that. Belief, or lack of belief, does not change one's parenthood. Thus Ali would always be called son of Abu Talib, Umar will always be called son of Khattab, Khalid would always be called son of Walid. It does not matter whether those fathers were Muslims or not.
Initially, platforms were being built right on top of the ruins, and construction of those was stopped halfway through because of the intervention of the Sindh High court. The ceremony at Moenjodaro was less of a cultural show, and more of a Lux Style Award show, with politicians and celebrities in the audience, and no common folk allowed.
I agree. He should not have named this ‘mujra cultural show’ as Sindh Cultural show to insult the sanctity of this 4000 years B.C. old site and insult traditional Sindhi culture of love and peace. Some one should have given him a good phenti and asked him to do this ‘mujra’ at Karachi. Any damage caused due to this ‘mujra’ should be paid by Zardari and Co.
ISLAMABAD: The Sindh Cultural Festival took off amid dazzling lights, but the din continues that it threatens Moenjodaro, the inaugural place of the festival listed with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as a world heritage site.
About a week before the launch of the two-week festival at Moenjodaro on Friday, the director of Unesco’s world heritage sites had described it as an ‘improper’ activity which could threaten its universal values.
But adviser to the Sindh chief minister on culture Sharmila Farooqi said all precautions had been taken during the inaugural ceremony at the ancient site.
Conservationists at the department of archaeology and museum said any human activity within 200 feet of any national heritage protected under the Antiquities Act 1975 was illegal.
“The act states that not even an electric wire can pass above a national heritage, let alone installing floodlights and setting up stage on a site protected under the law,” said a senior archaeologist in Islamabad.
The technical consultative committee of National Fund for Moenjodaro had also warned that the decision to hold inaugural ceremony at the site could cause irreparable damage to the fragile remains of Moenjodaro.
Unesco official Jawad Aziz said the organisation’s world heritage sites director had contacted Pakistan’s permanent delegate to investigate the matter and take steps to prevent the site from any harm. “About five days ago we passed on this message to the Sindh government to safeguard the universal value of Moenjodaro,” he said, adding that they were still waiting for a response from the departments concerned.
**Asma Ibrahim, director museum of the State Bank and member of the Heritage Management Board, criticised the holding of the ceremony at Moenjodaro and said no-one had been allowed to enter the site for three days and access to it was blocked by hundreds of policemen.
** “More than 500 guests were invited to the event which continued till late night. There is no way to tell the extent of damage caused to the site. The remains of Moenjodaro are already fragile. Salinity has weakened the walls to an extent that they can collapse by even loud sound,” she said, adding that the mud-brick remains required extra care.
Ms Ibrahim said she had tried in vain to convince Sharmila Farooqi to hold the ceremony outside the 200-foot protected area. The event had been held without obtaining a no-objection certificate from the Sindh department of archaeology, she said, adding that cases should be registered for violating the law.
Kaleemullah Lashari, Member National Fund for Moenjodaro, wrote two back-to-back letters to the Sindh secretary for culture, tourism and antiquities warning of the damage to be caused to the ruins by the opening ceremony.
In a letter written on Jan 30, a copy of which is available with Dawn, Mr Lashari urged the secretary to use vast lawns of the museum and offices for the ceremony, instead of protected areas of the site. “The world community does not endorse such improper activity and it will be an embarrassment if a wall of the remains collapses or any other fragile section of the remains is damaged,” the letter said.
No conservation efforts have been undertaken at Moenjodaro for over 10 years. A better sense prevailed in 2010 when the government stopped the construction of a highway through the ancient remains believed to be as old as 4,000 BC.
Sharmila Farooqi claimed that no harm was caused to the world heritage site. “Arrangements for the event were meticulous. All the officials concerned and Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari (PPP patron-in-chief) personally visited the site before the opening ceremony,” she added.
But Asma Ibrahim said the damage could be assessed only after the government allowed access to the site which was still closed to outsiders and its caretakers.
I am same age like ......
May be , I could be like him but fotunately I was not famous like him so having no chance to sell myself in a high class market of west
Uncle ko 100 khoon maaf heiN...he can say anything :)
I am same age like ......
May be , I could be like him but fotunately I was not famous like him so having no chance to sell myself in a high class market of west
