DADU/SUKKUR: The Talpur community living in Johi on Monday called on the department of culture and archaeology to immediately intervene to stop certain elements from destroying heritage and other historical sites on their ancestral lands.

Addressing a press conference in the local press club, Mir Mor Khan, Mir Shabbir, Mir Nazir, Mir Kaleemullah, Mir Raza Mohammad and other Talpur community members revealed that structures of historical importance present on their ancestral lands were being damaged and destroyed by these elements.

They accused some local members of the Dahari and Malkani communities of grabbing parts of these lands with a plan to build a shopping mall and execute some other commercial projects.

“Unknown armed men are supervising the teams of builders and labourers at these sites,” they said, and claimed that structures of historical importance, including the Talpur Fort, were being damaged or destroyed. They also claimed that Talpur family’s ancestral lands were being forcibly occupied by these elements. Some of the heritage sites were being demolished to retrieve lands to use them for commercial purposes, they added.

Accuse ‘armed influential elements’ of destroying fort and other structures to raise commercial buildings

They said the local Talpurs did resist the encroachment of their lands, illegal demolition of structures and unauthorised construction but the henchmen of certain influential figures of the area paid no heed to their resistance and protest.

“Invaluable articles, like centuries-old furniture and precious articles, have been taken away by these elements,” they alleged.

Heavy machinery had been employed for the destruction of these structures and carry out unauthorised construction, they said.

“We don’t want to create a scene by confronting with these elements on our own, that’s why we urge the relevant department, police and higher authorities to fulfill their responsibility of ensuring preservation and protection of these sites of historical importance,” the Talpur community members said.

However, they added, if these elements were not stopped from such unlawful and unauthorised activities, the Talpurs would be compelled to hold strong street protests.

“We will not allow anyone to encroach upon our ancestral lands,” they said.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2025