SHC seeks original layout plan of Mohata Palace
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought original layout plan of Mohata Palace on a petition regarding establishment of Girls Medical College at Qasr-e-Fatima. A single bench comprising Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan held a hearing on the establishment of Girls Medical College at Mohata Palace (Qasr-e-Fatima).
Sindh Advocate General Salman Talib-ud-Din presented the registered record of rights in the court. Copies of the layout plan of Mohata Palace were also submitted.
Khawaja Shams-ul-Islam, counsel for the petitioner, stated that valuables had been stolen from Mohata Palace. Items used by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Fatima Jinnah are kept in the houses of Hameed Haroon and others. Sindh Advocate General while giving arguments said, "What have these things got to do with the ownership of the property?" Justice Khan remarked that the same property should be disbursed. "Where did the assets of Quaid-e-Azam and Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah go? If there is nothing left in their assets, what will be disbursed in the inheritance?" the SHC judge remarked.
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Giving his arguments, Sindh Advocate General said that the amount is with the registrar of Sindh High Court. Justice Khan remarked that the petitioners did not want money.
At this the Sindh AG contended that if the petitioner did not want the money then it should be kept lying with the court. "Mohata Palace is the property of Sindh government. The court has also ruled in various orders. It was sold to the Sindh government," the AG contended.
The court said that the sale of Mohata Palace to the Sindh government was subject to final determination of price and the final price has not been determined yet.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2021.