Nawab of Junagadh laid to rest with state honour

The Nawab of Junagadh Muhammad Jahangir Khanji was laid to rest at Moach Goth Graveyard on Friday with state honour.

A smartly turned-out contingent of Sindh police presented a guard of honour to the late nawab, whose father, Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khan III, the ruler of the princely state of Junagadh, had decided to join Pakistan in 1947, but India annexed it by force.

Prominent scholar Haji Hanif Tayyab led the funeral prayers amid appropriate security arrangements at Fatima Jinnah House Road in Karachi. The dastar bandi or the crowning of the new nawab with the traditional turban was held prior to the funeral. Ali Murtaza Khanji son of Jahangir Khanji was handed over the turban of the princely state in exile.

Governor of Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, Director General Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) Major General Azhar Waqas, PPP leaders Saeed Ghani, former chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, leaders of MQM-Pakistan Dr Farooq Sattar and Mehfoz Yar Khan and other notables attended the funeral prayers.

Read more: India fated to see independence of Junagadh state: Nawab Jahangir Khan

Jahangir Khanji was a cancer patient who breathed his last in a private hospital on Thursday. The deceased has left behind his mother, widow, and two children to mourn his death.

After the Friday prayer, many mourners expressed their condolence on the demise of Jahangir Khanji. Personalities from all walks of life including social, political, religious, business community, and others reached the Junagadh House to bid farewell to the deceased and welcome the new nawab of the princely state in exile.

History

The Junagadh, a princely state in Indian Gujrat on the shores of the Arabian Sea, had opted to join Pakistan in 1947, however, like Kashmir, India illegally occupied it. Pakistan continues to claim its rights over Junagadh, Manwadar, and Sir Creek.

In 1947, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto joined the Council of Ministers of Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khan III, and in May of that year, became his dewan or prime minister.

With the partition of India in 1947, the princely states were left by the British to decide whether to accede to one of the newly-independent India or Pakistan, but they did not have any option to become a separate country.

The Constitutional Advisor to the Nawab, Nabi Baksh, indicated to Lord Mountbatten that he was recommending that Junagarh should join India. However, upon the advice of Dewan Bhutto, on August 15, 1947, the Nawab announced that Junagadh had acceded to Pakistan. On 16 September, the government of Pakistan accepted the accession.

India sent its military into Junagadh while the Nawab of Junagarh was in Pakistan and captured the state of Junagadh, overthrowing Nawab and the rights of princely states.