Pakistan's Sindh government has admitted the Indian consulate building in Karachi was owned by India and that all documents presented in court relating to its sale were fake.
A case has been filed in the Sindh high court relating to the 'sale' of the Indian consulate building.
The home secretary of the Sindh government S Anwar Haider in his counter affidavit filed in the court on Wednesday rebutted the averments made by a one Karim H Jiva that he was the rightful owner of the building and sold it to another Pakistani.
The property belonged to the Indian government and the documents submitted by the plaintiff and the builder were fabricated, Haider said in his affidavit, Pakistan daily Dawn reported from Karachi.
Categorically denying that claims made by Jiva, Haider said Jiva was in collusion with Syed Ali Baqar Naqvi, who claims to be the current owner of the property after purchasing it from Jiva for Rs 40 million.
Though the case was believed to have closed, Naqvi filed a petition in the Sindh high court to claim its custody.
Contesting his stand, the Sindh government has said the title deeds of Jiva were fabricated. The court adjourned the case to November 7 after directing that Jiva and Naqvi produce their original title deeds.
Jiva and Naqvi went to the court despite assurances provided by the Pakistan foreign office to India last month stating that the encroachment of the Indian Consulate building in Karachi had been cleared.
An Indian Airlines official in Karachi noticed the encroachment first. The Indian high commission subsequently complained to the Pakistan foreign office asking the government to clear it.
Subsequently, the foreign office notified that the encroachments have been removed and guards have been posted to protect all the five properties owned by India.
The consulate was kept under lock and key ever since it was closed in 1994.
