Alleged land grabbers demolished a portion of the historic city wall of Peshawar Tuesday night in the Kohati area of the city.

The 57-feet tall portion of the historical wall was demolished by people who own property near the wall and were digging soil close by for construction of a basement.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Archaeology and Museum has registered an FIR against them at the Khotwali police station under Section 44 (4) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Antiquities Act, 2016. The section states that damaging antiquities is a crime liable to be punished with a fine of Rs500,000 and imprisonment for two years.

A research officer at the KP Directorate of Archaeology and Museum, Nawazuddin, told SAMAA Digital that the wall was demolished by people who own property near it. “The property belongs to a lady and we have registered an FIR against the owner of the property,” Nawazuddin said, adding that the wall has been demolished deliberately as it was blocking the property direct access to the main road.

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According to Nawazuddin, it was the longest remaining portion of the city wall measuring about 200 feet, out of which 57 feet was demolished. The directorate team visited the site and stopped work to prevent further damage to the wall.

The Peshawar District Nazim has ordered an inquiry into the matter and asked for a report within 24 hours from Town 2’s town municipal officer.

The wall, given the name of the Walled City of Peshawar, was built in the Mughal era and then renovated during Sikh rule. The present shape dates back to the British rule. Majority of it has been encroached and the Kohati portion was the longest remaining portion.

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