Bayan-i waqiʿ 4.7

4.7

Notwithstanding this state of things, negociations for peace went on. But the Jat and Kazalbash soldiers reduced to ashes the old city and Wakilpur and other places; and the Nawab Wazir spread the report that they had gone to the Kashmir Gate. So the citizens were in a dilemma on both sides. Outside the city the Jat and Kazalbash soldiers were carrying on the attack; inside, the Emperor issued an order that the houses of those men who joined the Wazir should be seized. On this pretext wicked and ill-disposed men followed their own devices. The first thing that happened immediately on the Emperor's order being issued was that the houses of the sons of Mahmud Is'hak Khan deceased were plundered, because that from their houses balls and rockets fell by night upon the ramparts, and in this way a world of people were injured and wounded. As every one knew that he was the brother-in-law of Nawab Shuja'u-d daula, son of the wazir, who was with the Emperor, they all had left their families and property there, and were plundered. Some perished by the flames, and some were drowned in the river. The same thing happened to the house of the Khwaja Mahmud Basit, who was the spiritual guide of the wazir. His house was outside the city walls, and as he had received a message from the wazir to keep his mind at ease, he had not moved out of his place.