A UK court on Tuesday rejected India’s plea to dismiss Pakistan’s claim to the nearly Rs 350 crore under the Hyderabad Fund case, pushing the matter for a full trial.
The Judge accepted that there was good evidence in support of Pakistan’s claim to the monies, which needed to be fully considered at a trial. The Judge also accepted that there were good legal
arguments which were supportive of Pakistan’s position.
In a release Pakistan Foreign Office said: “The English High Court rejected Indian attempt to strike out Pakistan’s claim to the Hyderabad Fund, on 21 June 2016…India failed to persuade the Court that Pakistan’s position was untenable and that it could show no legal entitlement to the 35 million GBP sitting in a bank account in the name of the High Commissioner of Pakistan, since 20th September 1948.”
“The Judge accepted that there was good evidence in support of Pakistan’s claim to the monies, which needed to be fully considered at a trial.”
However, India’s External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi said: “Pending trial or settlement of the matter, it is premature to reach any conclusion regarding ownership of the monies, especially as the present judgement readily acknowledges that there is much force in many of India’s arguments to strike out Pakistan’s claim of ownership”.
The Indian side also cited previous judgement in the case when Pakistan’s subsequent application for discontinuance of the case was rejected by the same court in 2015 and India was also awarded substantial costs against Pakistan at that stage.
The money trail
■ The nizam’s Rs 310 crore is locked up in NatWest Bank
■ In 1948, the nizam’s finance minister transferred GBP 1 million to the account of then Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK without permission
■ The Nizam brought a civil action against his finance minister
■ The money is claimed by Pakistan, India and the nizam’s heirs