The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to launch a media advertisement campaign for the timely recovery of shoes of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) reportedly stolen from Badshahi Mosque in 2002.
A three member bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ordered the authorities to step up efforts for the recovery of the sacred shoes commonly known as ‘nalain-e-pak’. “We will not let go off this matter until the shoes are found. This is such a rare and priceless thing,” the chief justice remarked. A Punjab Police representative informed the court that ‘nalain-e-pak’ were stolen on their way back from Brunei on July 31, 2002. “We took fingerprints from the crime scene. Once we were informed that the shoes were spotted in Karachi,” he added.
Subsequently, a video clip of ‘nalain-e-pak’ was played in the courtroom. Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan remarked that the shoes hold a significant importance and such sacred items are often kept in museums. In response, the police official said Turkey’s Topkapi Palace Museum and a museum in England were also checked.
The chief justice questioned if any advertisements had been run on television or newspapers pertaining to the theft. To this, the official replied, “We have kept a reward of Rs 1.5 million for anyone who provides us with information.” The chief justice observed that it was the electronic and print media’s duty to run ads to help find the ‘nalain-e-pak’. “We know the police is working in the right direction. Such sacred relics should be taken care of by the Punjab government.”
The top court ordered the police to submit a report every three months and also asked the Punjab government to ensure safety of other sacred objects. “Objects like these should be kept in glass boxes.”
Published in Daily Times, January 17th 2019.
