Owner of Kapoor haveli in Pak seeks govt aid

ISLAMABAD: After the media outcry on the fate of Raj Kapoor’s haveli, the building’s owner has asked for help from the government to preserve it.

Haji Israr Khan, a local businessman, told Hindustan Times that he was planning to convert the building into a hotel. But Khan said he realises the historical importance of the building and is willing to save it “if the government meets me halfway”.

Khan told a local newspaper, “We know the building is a national asset but I cannot preserve it alone.” He said the responsibility of assisting in preservation lies with the archaeology department. He lashed out at officials of the Directorate of Archeology and Museums.

“They never contacted us or even visited the house to carry out work for its preservation,” he said.

Khan had taken down the 100-year-old wooden roof of the building after massive cracks appeared in the walls. The first two floors of the building have also been torn down — Khan says these have been done to save the rest of the building.

HAJI ISRAR KHAN, A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN, TOLD HINDUSTAN TIMES THAT HE WAS PLANNING TO CONVERT THE BUILDING INTO A HOTEL

He also claimed it had become a threat for those living in the vicinity as neighbours complained to him.

The haveli is located in the old Mohallah Dhaki Munawar Shah. On Sunday, the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums stopped the tearing down of this iconic structure.

Khan says he had earlier spoken to the government to help preserve the old building but these talks were abandoned later. In the meantime, the building developed massive cracks after an earthquake last year.

Nisar Khan, an 80-year-old man who lived near the building all his life, said, “We know there is history behind the building but no one ever cares about it.”

He recalled when Raj Kapoor’s younger brother, Shashi Kapoor, visited the haveli with his sons two decades ago and took some soil from the compound to remember his heritage.