–Court’s verdict says £35 million belong to the heirs of Nizam in India
–FO says verdict does not take into account the historical context
LONDON: Deciding a decades-old legal dispute between Pakistan and India, a United Kingdom (UK) high court on Wednesday ruled that an amount of £35 million belonging to the Nizam of Hyderabad at the time of partition of subcontinent and deposited in a London bank account belongs to heirs of the Nizam in India.
The judgment stated that £35 million – belonging to Nizam of Hyderabad at the time of partition in 1947 and given to Pakistan for safe-keeping in Natwest London bank account – belongs to heirs of Nizam in India.
Prince Mukarram Jah, the 8th Nizam of Hyderabad and his younger brother Muffakham Jah, had joined hands with India in the legal fight against Pakistan over £35 million.
The original amount, which was about £1,007,940, has now grown to around £35 million after 70 years.
Commenting on the verdict, Foreign Office (FO) said that the judgement rejects the longstanding claims of the two major parties and upholds the claims of the heirs of Nizam of Hyderabad.
FO further said that Pakistan had taken note of the judgment by the High Courts of Justice of the UK in the Hyderabad fund case on Wednesday after a two-week trial in June 2019.
“The ruling does not take into account the historical context of the transfer when India illegally annexed Hyderabad in violation of international law and all civilized norms, leading the Nizam of Hyderabad to make desperate efforts to defend his people and the state from Indian invasion,” said the statement issued by FO.
The Nizam also raised the matter with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) where the issue remains on the agenda to date. The Nizam, as a sovereign, approached Pakistan for assistance, which the Government of Pakistan provided.
Pakistan is closely examining all aspects of the detailed judgment and will take further action in light of legal advice received.