LARKANA: A vintage Ford car which was used by by Sir John Marshall during excavation of World Heritage archaeological site of Mohenjo Daro has not yet been repaired and renovated by the provincial Culture & Tourism Department despite the passage of two years.
The 94-year old historical car was used by the famous archeologist for ten years from 1922-1932 and when was handed over to the then management of historical ruins as a gift. It was neither looked after by the then authorities nor it was brought in proper shape by subsequent federal or provincial governments.
Two years ago, on the directions of Sindh’s Culture & Tourism Department Minister Syed Sardar Shah, it was shifted to Karachi on the pretext of getting it repaired and renovated but till to date it has neither been repaired, renovated nor it has been sent back to the Mohenjo Daro museum so that the visitors could be able to watch it.
This has created lot of unrest and suspicion among the civil society members and lovers of archaeology who say that the car might be kept somewhere else.
Mohenjo Daro Curator Ihsan Abbasi when asked told media persons that the car was shifted to Karachi on the directions of the Culture Minister Syed Sardar Shah who promised to send it back after proper repairs and renovation.
To a question he replied that he is unaware as to why it has not yet been brought in original shape, adding that either it is due to lack of funds or due to other reasons but he said that it will be sent here for museum and visitors. Civil Society members including Dodo Deshi, Sabir Jarwar, Aziz Brohi and others suspected that the car will be kept in Nation Museum, Karachi, after repairs and will not be brought back but at the same time they warned that if it is not sent at Mohenjo Daro then we will come out on roads and protest against this what they called highhandedness of the Culture and Tourism Department.
They demanded from the PPP Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to take notice of the matter, and ordered car’s immediate repair and renovation so that it could be kept at Mohenjo Daro museum as a treasure.
Published in Daily Times, August 26th 2018.
