Land linked to Musharraf auctioned as enemy property in India

Two hectares of land in the Kotana village of Baghpat in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh linked to former president Pervez Musharraf were auctioned for INR1.38 crore on Friday. The amount translates into Rs45.816 million in Pakistan.

Indian media has reported that officials have confirmed the sale of the land, which was declared enemy property in 2010 under regulations managing assets of Pakistani nationals in India.

According to reports in the Indian media, the land is said to be linked to Musharraf’s family -- although neither Musharraf nor his immediate relatives lived in the village. His uncle, Humayun, is said to have resided there before Partition. Per reports, Baraut’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amar Verma confirmed to Indian journalists that Musharraf’s grandfather lived in Kotana, but Musharraf had never visited.

The Press Trust of India has reported that, despite no direct documented link between the land’s owner, listed as ‘Nuru’, and Musharraf, the property was classified as enemy property due to its ownership by a Pakistani national who migrated in 1965. This auction is part of India’s broader strategy to manage enemy properties left behind by those who migrated to Pakistan after the 1965 and 1971 wars.