UK agrees to return antique pottery to Pakistan

[LahoreEstate]

ISLAMABAD: The British government has agreed to return to Pakistan 198 pieces of antique pottery valued at millions of dollars and believed to be almost 4,000 years told. The pottery pieces were smuggled out of Pakistan in 2007, but were seized by the UK’s Customs Department at Heathrow Airport. The pieces were sent by airfreight via Dubai and initially categorised as ‘ordinary pieces of pottery with a value of about $100’. The Pakistan High Commission started negotiating with British authorities for the return of the pottery immediately after the pieces were confiscated in the UK. President Asif Ali Zardari has congratulated the Pakistan High Commission in London for securing the return of the ancient artefacts. “The British authorities will hand over the invaluable pieces to the Pakistan High Commission in London in the coming days,” according to statement by the Presidency. President Zardari also wrote a letter to Pakistani High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hassan praising his efforts. The president also advised the ministry responsible for dealing with antiques to display the pieces at a secure place. staff report

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg7_3