Fatima Jinnah receives Rs 380,807 bill for water, sewerage

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has sent a bill to Madar-e-Millat and the sister of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the late Fatima Jinnah, for both water and service charges for sewerage, it emerged on Wednesday.

The bill amounts to Rs 380,807. KWSB directed her to pay the bill or the connection of water and sewerage of the Flag Staff House, Fatima Jinnah residence, can be disconnected at anytime. It has also been said that if the connection is disconnected, then the fees for restoring the connection will also be applicable.

It may be pertinent to mention here that the Flag Staff House located in Karachi Cantt was the property of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It is being used as a museum, where items of personal belonging to both the Quaid and Fatima Jinnah are kept. However, Fatima Jinnah continues to receive a bill on account of the provision of water and service charges for sewerage 48 years after her death.

In May 2014, KWSB issued a bill to Fatima Jinnah amounting to Rs 263,774, and she has been directed to pay the amount within 10 days of receipt of the notice attached, or else the water and sewerage facilities will be disconnected. According to the Land Revenue Act, the property could be confiscated, auctioned and a fine can be imposed. Moreover, she can also be arrested. The notice has been sent by the KWSB according to which the last date for payment of the amount was May 28, 2014.

As per the details, KWSB has issued a bill to the sister of the founder leader Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Fatima Jinnah, by adding Rs 117,033 on June 02, 2015. The KWSB told Madar-e-Millat that the due date for the payment is June 30, 2015.

A copy of the bill available with Pakistan Today read that Fatima Jinnah’s consumer number is A0600390000, and her address has been noted down as RA 241, Cantt. The KWSB water arrears for Fatima Jinnah escalated to Rs 349,797 on June 02, 2015. The water bill for the Flag Staff House, which spreads over 4000 square yards, for the month of May 2015, was Rs 8,403.

It has also been mentioned that the sewerage arrears have bundled up to a hefty Rs 17,212 and she has to pay Rs 5,387 as fire charges, too. Fatima Jinnah has been directed to pay Rs 380,807 within the due date, which is June 30, 2015, or Rs 381,647 after due date, if she wants to continue availing the KWSB services.

Historical background:

On September 13, 1948, Fatima Jinnah moved into the house, which was purchased by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and lived there until 1964. Fatima Jinnah vacated the house soon after she lost the 1965 election and moved into the Mohatta Palace.

1n 1967, when Jinnah passed away, a separate committee was set up to handle the family’s wealth. The committee was subsequently dissolved and all of Jinnah’s money was given to Jinnah’s Trustee and the house was sealed.

On February 14, 1985, the government purchased the Staff Flag House for Rs 5,107,000 and it was declared a national heritage site. All of Jinnah’s belongings were moved into the house, and on November 25, 1993, it was declared the Quaid-e-Azam House Museum.

Last year, when this issue surfaced Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui has assured that the bill would be reverted as national heritages sites are exempted from utility bills. He assured that the KWSB would not send a utility bill to Madara-e-Millat Fatima Ali Jinnah again.

When approached for comments, Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui said that the bill would be reverted. “Last year, I issued directives to KWSB not to send a utility bill to the Staff Flag House,” Siddiqui said, adding that “Now, I will direct the KWSB authorities to remove the name of the Staff Flag House from their billing list permanently.”