Baqul Mohsin/M Afzaal Hameed 

BAHAWALPUR - The Dera Nawab Sahib Police have recovered artefacts, dating back to British era, worth billions of rupees stolen from Sadiq Garah Palace, Ahmedpur East.Talking to The Nation exclusively on Monday, District Police Officer (DPO) Sohail Habib Tajik informed that Police guard Mohammad Abbas deployed at the palace had stolen the artefacts that included two statues of the British Prince and Princess, guns, bullets, badges, mirrors, lamps, tea cups, tea pot, Huqa, daggers, and two Indian British Passports. He pointed out that these passports were issued in the 1941 besides the artefacts contained historic books which were related with the history of Bahawalpur State and other valuables which worth millions of rupees.The DPO said that Cop Abbas had shifted the artefacts one by one to his house. On the tip-off of driver Mohammad Nazir, who also aided and abetted Abbas, the police recovered the artefacts from a house and arrested the culprit.DPO Tajik said that FIR 457-380-411 was registered against Mohammad Abbas.He elaborated that due a dispute in the Nawab family, 25 persons had contacted the police who were claiming to be the real heirs to Nawab sahib. "We are referring the case to the court to decide who is the real heir to the artefacts," he argued.DPO Tajik suggested that the government should take some necessary steps to safeguard the historic treasure.