ISLAMABAD: Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) has returned back 10 paintings of renowned painter Anwar Jalal Shemza (Late) to his widow Mary Shemza after three decades.
Anwar Jalal Shemza was an established Pakistani painter in Lahore in the early 50s as part of the Lahore Art Circle. In 1957 he travelled to London to study at the Slade School of art. He fused western abstraction with eastern influences to create his own unique style. He died by a sudden heart attack.
According to PNCA, these 10 paintings were loaned by Mary Shemza to PNCA on their request after an exhibition (Roots) organized in 1985. PNCA also have the receipts in their records.
Mary Shemza asked to give back her husband’s paintings after three years of exhibition but incharge PNCA refused to return, offering her Rs.40, 000 for paintings.
Since 30 years, Mary was demanding the paintings back. She wrote letters to Naeem Tahir, Jamal Shah, Ex DGs and other secretaries of PNCA. Legal notice was also sent to Jamal Shah in 2017 by Asma Jahangir on behalf of Mary Shemza.
In late 2019, the current Government placed PNCA under National Heritage and Culture Division, in the leadership of Mr. Shafqat Mehmood, Federal Minister for Education and National heritage. A new Director General, Dr Fouzia Saeed was appointed in January 2020.
DR Fouzia Saeed has said that there are scores of letters Mary Shemza wrote throughout the three decades on our record. Thus, it is a matter of relief for us to have resolved the issue of our gross negligence in the past. Mary Shemza has written a thank you letter to the Minister and the PM after getting her paintings back.
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