Authority says formal consent from legal heirs was obtained before relocation
Capital Development Authority (CDA). Photo: APP
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday rejected reports suggesting the demolition of a World War I monument, stating that the monument has been relocated as part of a conservation effort to ensure its long-term preservation, safety and public accessibility.
Earlier, media reports said the monument on Kuri Road near Rehara village was destroyed.
In a statement today, the CDA said the monument was carefully dismantled according to established conservation protocols, with original bricks and materials preserved to allow accurate reconstruction at a new site.
The authority maintained that the structure had deteriorated over time and that its relocation was necessary to ensure its decent maintenance and protection.
“Although the monument does not figure in the notified heritage inventory of the Department of Archaeology, the department was consulted and due process was followed,” the CDA said.
He added that formal consent from the legal heirs, including an affidavit and no-objection certificate from the great-grandson of Sub Ghulam Ali, in whose honor the monument is erected, was obtained before the relocation.
“The monument will be re-erected under his supervision in a safer and more visible location near the Northern Ring Road roundabout, near the village of Rehara, with the aim of improving public access and ensuring the continued respect of the site,” the CDA statement read.
The authority said the relocation of heritage structures due to development needs was an internationally recognized practice, citing examples such as the relocation of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse in the United States and the movement or reconstruction of historic monuments in the United Kingdom.
Reiterating that the historical significance of the monument remains intact, the CDA said the relocation continues to honor the bravery of Sub Ghulam Ali during the First World War and his Military Cross.
