Gujranwala, Pakistan (November 12, 2013): It is learnt that the haveli of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh empire, has become a picture of neglect due to the indifferent attitude of the Pakistani Waqf Board. An Amritsar based historian Surinder Kochher has reportedly told some media persons that Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s haveli located in the old Sabzi Mandi of Gujranwala city in Pakistan’s Punjab province has been converted into a vegetable market.
Six vegetable shops were recently built at the haveli, which belonged to the founder of the Sikh empire
According to a news reported on the “Daily Mail” Surinder Kochher claimed that the Waqf Board, which took over the charge of the haveli, constructed six vegetable shops after destroying the ground floor.
As per Kotchher the haveli now also lacks an access route as the stairs leading to the first floor have been dismantled and the area converted into a parking lot.
He maintained that he was in regular touch with his friends settled in the Pakistan’s Gujranwala city.
“The Waqf Board constructed six shops and sold them to vegetable commission agents. The shops were constructed during the first week of October. The traders have started selling vegetables. I was told about this on Saturday by my friend who also sent the pictures,” said Kochhar. According to Daily Mail Kochhar declined to give his friend’s name for security reasons.
It is notable that in January 2012 the local land mafia had tried to dismantle the historical structure to construct a shopping plaza at the site.
Pakistan’s Waqf Board has allowed part of the historic haveli to be used as a parking lot
When he raised the matter in the media, Kochhar claimed, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal wrote to the Pakistani authorities to protect the haveli.
“The bid to raze the building was halted after the issue was raised in media, but the mafia was successful in dismantling the front portion of haveli,” he said, adding that Pakistan Waqf Board’s the then Secretary Faraz Abbas had confirmed that the mafia had felled a portion of the structure.
During his personal visit in 2011, Kochhar said, he had found the local municipal authorities were dumping garbage inside the haveli.
“Close to this haveli is the haveli of Hari Singh Nalwa (another famed Sikh warrior) and the samadh of Sirdar Maha Singh (father of Maharaja Ranjit Singh), which are also in a pathetic condition,” the historian said.
The haveli started losing its sheen during the Partition days when it was used as a shelter to house Muslims arriving from India.
Later, the structure was converted into a police post and it was not until 2006 that the post was shifted. It was then handed over to the Department of Archaeology and Museums.