The thing with Pakistan is: It loves handing victories to India on a platter. A country which continuously assures its citizens that they will win on all counts, suddenly, is forced to accept defeat. In yet another disappointing defeat for the cash-strapped nation, the UK High Court has ruled in favour of India and the grandsons of the Nizam of Hyderabad (Mir Osman Ali Khan) in a 65 year old dispute, involving cash to the tune of £35 Million or Rs. 306 Crores. The original dispute was regarding a sum of £1 Million, however, the current valuation stands at £35 Million.
It is a known fact that the then Nizam of Hyderabad was unwilling to integrate with the Indian Union post-independence. To retain and protect his ‘sovereignty’, the Nizam procured arms and weaponry from Pakistan, to defend his princely state against any Indian military action. Significantly, this fact has been confirmed by the Pakistani side during the proceedings of this case. Harish Salve, representing the Indian side on the case had this to say, “Historians will be interested in Pakistan publicly acknowledging it was supplying arms. Whether to Nizam’s army or the Razakars militia, I don’t know.” Such an admission by the Pakistanis will surely dent whatever remaining image they have among the world-community. It goes on to prove how Pakistan has in-fact, ever since its inception, looked at creating unrest within India.
Pakistan, in 1955, had claimed that the UK courts were interfering with Pakistan’s sovereignty. By invoking its sovereign immunity, Pakistan got the case closed back then. However, in 2013, Pakistan decided to sue the National Westminster Bank, hoping to initiate action against the bank and walking away with the money itself. However, this action by Pakistan reopened the old case, as the ‘Sovereign Immunity’ card of the Pakistanis ceased to exist. After a vigorous trial in which India was represented by Harish Salve and Pakistan fielded their Victorian aged Barrister, Khawar Qureshi QC, the verdict came out in favour of India.
Pakistan, during the proceedings, came up with their usual flimsy excuses. Pakistan stated that India’s claim to the amount was ill-timed. India rebutted by saying that it was Pakistan which did not let the case be pursued previously, as they had invoked sovereign immunity. This claim of Pakistan therefore fell flat. Another point raised by Pakistan was that India accession of Hyderabad was not in accordance with the Indian Independence Act. However, the UK Court stated that the United Kingdom officially recognized Hyderabad’s accession to India.
On October 2nd, Justice Marcus Smith delivered the 140-page verdict in complete favour of India. Pakistan would now be forced to hand over Rs. 306 crore to India and the grandsons of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Apart from being a humiliating defeat, Pakistan would also be forced to return the money to India. Pakistan’s dream of walking away with the amount has been shattered. They will now realize that had they not invoked sovereign immunity in 1955, they would have to let go of a much smaller amount of money (£1 Million). However, being the brain-dead leaders which the country has always had, such a move should not come as a surprise.
This is the second major victory of Harish Salve for India, after the recent victory at the ICJ. In both cases, the man has proved his mettle and brought justice to the country. This is also the second major defeat of the fancy-haired Khawar Qureshi, who seems to be focused more on the aesthetics of his legal appearance, rather than the content of his arguments.