LAHORE: The Directorate General of Archaeology Punjab firmly rejects any insinuation or allegation appeared in different news channels vis-à-vis the alleged theft of any relics or personal belongings of Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal at Javid Manzil by the Museum staff or the Directorate General of Archaeology, Punjab. Such an assertion would be contrary to the documented historical and administrative record.
The matter is essentially one of the pending return of historically transferred museum objects, and not one of theft or disappearance of artefacts.
The historical record clearly establishes that the objects in question were transferred in 2003 and 2006 to national museums i.e., Islamabad & Karachi and conservation facilities through documented official proceedings. These transfers were undertaken by the then Federal Department of Archaeology and Museums and other concerned federal institutions for purpose of preservation, conservation, treatment and public display.
Similarly, certain manuscripts and other objects were entrusted to the National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi, and its conservation laboratory for specialised paper preservation and treatment.
It is a matter of record that the Directorate General of Archaeology, Punjab, has neither authorised nor undertaken any removal of these relics. The transfer of the relics in question was carried out by the Federal Department of Archaeology and Museums. Following devolution, no relics were transferred by the Directorate General of Archaeology Punjab. On the contrary, the Directorate General of Archaeology Punjab has consistently pursued the matter with the concerned Federal Authorities for the return of the outstanding objects to their original institution, Allama Iqbal Museum, Javid Manzil, Lahore.
According to the consolidated inventory available with the Museum, 143 objects/relics remain outstanding for return from the concerned institutions in Islamabad and Karachi. Their whereabouts are identifiable through the transfer records, inventories and official correspondence maintained in connection with these transactions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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