Islamabad: The ownership rights of Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s 2.5 acres estate in Malabar Hill, Mumbai, are the subject of a legal dispute between Jinnah’s daughter and the Indian and Pakistani governments.
According to a report in Hindustan Times, Islamabad has asked New Delhi to hand over the ownership rights claiming that it has repeatedly asked the government of India for the possession of the property. The ownership of house in Malabar Hill, Mumbai, whose estimated value is USD 400 million, was claimed by Pakistan following BJP legislator Mangal Lodha’s demand that the structure be demolished and a cultural centre be built in its place.
In response to Lodha’s demand, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that it expects the Indian government to protect the property and fulfil its maintenance obligations.
Zakaria said that the rights of ownership were being discussed. “The property belongs to the founder of Pakistan and should be given to Pakistan. On various occasions, the Indian government has promised to handover the property to the government of Pakistan but (they) have not fulfilled their commitment as yet,” he added.
Pakistan’s wish to use Jinnah House as its consulate in Mumbai was unsuccessful as it was linked with an issue about India being allowed to reopen a consulate in Karachi. Both countries are yet to make any progress in this matter.
However, Dina Wadia, Jinnah’s daughter is not the only one contending for the ownership right of this building. Two other Mumbai residents, Mohamed Ebrahim and Shakir Ebrahim, son and grandson of Ashraf Rajabally Ebrahim, the daughter of Jinnah’s sister Mariam, have also claimed to be the heirs to the property.
According to the Indian government, in a will dated May 30, 1939, Jinnah bequeathed the property to his sister Fatima Jinnah. The movable and immovable property of those who chose to go to Pakistan was classified as “evacuee property” by India and was taken over. But as a goodwill gesture, then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ensured Jinnah’s assets were not classified.
