Islamabad, Dec 05: In a significant ruling, a Pakistan high court today dismissed as "frivolous" a petition by a businessman who claimed to have purchased the Indian consulate building in Karachi and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on him for making false claims. The miscellaneous application was "frivolous" and "without any substance," Justice Ata-ur-Rahman of the Sindh High Court said.
He also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 against the plaintiff Syed Ali Baqir Naqvi, who claimed to have bought the consulate building which was closed in 1995 following differences between the two countries. Since then the building remained locked.
The court said that Pakistan, under Vienna convention being the host, and its functionaries are responsible to protect the interest and the properties of foreign missions and take all necessary steps to secure them from being encroached upon or usurped in any manner what-so-ever.
"Tentatively, it is found that plaintiff and defendant have not come to the court with clean hands," the court said adding that "plaintiff has failed to make out a prima facie case".
Acting on a complaint filed by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad two months ago, the Pakistan foreign office had said the Sindh government has already cleared the encroachments and posted police guards at all the five properties. Subsequently Naqvi challenged the Pakistan government's stance in the Sindh High Court.
Advocate general Sindh, Anwar Mansoor Khan, appearing for the defendants stated that the property was owned by the government of India and President of India was the actual owner who purchased the same from Mr and Mrs N E Supariwala on 31-7-1950.
The attorney general who examined the documents furnished by the plaintiff said that the papers were forged and fabricated. Bureau Report