The invisible Maryam Zamani Mosque

LAHORE

Surrounded by massive encroachments, Maryam Zamani Mosque is waiting for the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) to launch a clean-up operation to restore its past glory. 

Maryam Zamani Mosque, viewed as the oldest mosque of Mughal Era in Lahore, is located inside Masti Gate near the back wall of Lahore Fort. The mosque, which is called Begum Shahi or Mariam Zamani Mosque, is encroached upon by Rim Market for the past several years. 

Presently, this unique mosque is not even visible to the citizens because of heavy encroachments and all past efforts to rescue this monument had failed due to various reasons including lack of political will. Sources in WCLA claimed that in February 2016 WCLA constituted special teams to gather data of encroachers to launch a grand operation cleanup but still no action has been taken on the ground.

Sources said to rehabilitate the mosque, WCLA has prepared a PC-1, which will be submitted to the chief minister soon. “Cost of PC-1 is Rs 90 million which will include the conservation of the entire Mosque (Hujras, floor, gates, walls, fresco, ceilings, roof, domes) and its exterior,” sources said, adding a comprehensive plan for removal of encroachment are the prior objectives. 

“We have already gotten the node of the political leadership to make all monuments encroachment free,” said Director, WCLA, Najamus Saqib while talking to The News. He said his teams are working on Maryam Zamani Mosque and confirmed that operation cleanup will be launched soon.

Giving history of the mosque, WCLA’s Tania Qureshi said that this mosque is called the mother of all mosques and it was the first mosque of Lahore which was constructed during the Mughal Era (1611-1614) by the Emperor Jahangir for his beloved mother Maryam Zamani popularly known as “Jodha Akbar”, the wife of Emperor Akbar.

The mosque is also is the first to exhibit five-bay facade and was constructed of brick masonry and rendered with plaster. Though the mosque is small in structure than Wazir Khan Mosque, it is decorated with rich fresco which can still be seen intact in some parts of the Mosque, she maintained.

Najamus Saqib said WCLA is also working for rehabilitation of the mosque and its fresco and façade will also be restored in coming days. 

He said Rim Market was established in this area because of Lorry Adda and with the passage of time the market expanded. He said now when Lorry Adda was moved outside the city, this market should also go. He said recently a number of Goods Transporters have started establishing their godowns and offices in the area, which is also destroying the beauty of the Walled City.

Local residents said that they will welcome any kind of operation cleanup against encroachers in this area and urged the government to restore the mosque as per its past glory. If restored, this may become a popular tourist site of the city like Wazir Khan Mosque.

Director General, WCLA, Kamran Lashari said the mosque is in a poor condition and that is why WCLA has taken up the conservation of this monument on priority. “Once conserved the monument will be opened for tourists,” he said and concluded that WCLA is planning an indiscriminate anti-encroachment operation in the area.