Minister in Sindh Takes Action: Committee Created to Investigate Stolen Artworks

A committee has been established to investigate the claims of local Sindh artist Seffy Soomro, who alleges that his paintings were stolen and used in a drama currently airing on a private entertainment channel. The announcement was made by Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, the Sindh Minister for Culture, Tourism, Antiquities, and Archives, following Soomro’s revelation that he discovered his artwork featured in a popular drama after being told they were lost during an exhibition.

Soomro, from Daharki in Ghotki district, shared his experience on social media, posting images of two paintings from a collection of 16 to 17 he created for his thesis project titled “Innocent Faces” at the University of Sindh’s Department of Fine Arts. His posts garnered significant attention, with many people calling for accountability for the injustice he faced and shedding light on the challenges artists encounter in Pakistan.

In response to the public outcry, the provincial minister formed an investigation committee, which includes directors from the culture and antiquities departments, to thoroughly examine the incident. The committee will look into the management at Frere Hall and Soomro’s ownership claims.

Soomro expressed his initial joy at seeing his paintings showcased but was disheartened to realize he had been misled about their status. He stated that he plans to apply to the Frere Hall administration for the return of his paintings and seek damages. Soomro clarified that he had not sent any legal notices to Frere Hall and does not have a lawyer.

Shah, while overseeing the investigation, mentioned he was unaware of who had filed a police complaint regarding the matter. Soomro, who regularly shares his art on social media, said he intends to take his career more seriously and has received interest from various platforms for his work.

In his Instagram post, Soomro revealed he had submitted the paintings for display at Frere Hall in 2017 but was later told they were lost when he tried to retrieve them. Years later, he recognized his work in an episode of the drama and took to social media to express his frustration at being deceived. He expressed gratitude to those who highlighted the incident and to the authorities for initiating an investigation.