After losing Nizam of Hyderabad case in London: Legal cost being paid from expats welfare fund

DUBAI: Government of Pakistan has come up with a novel idea to pay the legal battle charges of “Nizam of Hyderabad case” from the social and welfare fund present in the accounts of Pakistani missions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia (KSA).

After losing the case of Nizam of Hyderabad in London, Pakistan would pay the legal cost of the case through the “welfare fund” of Pakistanis accumulated in the accounts of Pakistani missions in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, diplomatic sources informed The News.

Last year, the UK High Court who had not only ruled against Pakistan in a decades-old legal dispute over funds belonging to the Nizam of Hyderabad at the time of partition and deposited in a London bank account, also ordered Pakistan to pay nearly £6 millions (Rs1.21 billion) in legal costs.

Well-informed sources revealed that Pakistan’s foreign office in Islamabad sent a letter to three of its missions to send their “social and welfare fund” to London to pay the legal cost of recently lost case. A joint letter has been sent to the Pakistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai to freeze the social and welfare funds and make arrangements to transfer the amount to the appropriate foreign office, sources confirmed The News.

Pakistanis living abroad will have to pay “social and welfare fund” for acquisition and renewal of their passports, national identity cards and other documents in diplomatic missions, which are commonly used to resolve the problems of overseas Pakistanis. However, this time the government has explored the unique way to use the welfare money.

Recently, many deserving Pakistanis approached the Pakistan consulate for their grievances but could not be entertained due to the shortage of welfare funds after the order of government of Pakistan.

One senior diplomat also informed The News that the Pakistan consulate has now shortage of welfare funds so the complainants are advised to contact to Pakistan’s successful businessmen in Dubai to raise money.

Senior diplomat who had previously been deputed in the Pakistani mission in the UAE also confirmed that a letter was sent from the Foreign Office a few days ago to pay the litigation money as soon as possible.

It is reported that the issue of payment of money also came under discussion at a meeting of the Federal Cabinet of Pakistan, after which it was suggested to use the social and welfare funds available for diplomatic missions specially in Middle Eastern countries.

Senior diplomats say that Pakistanis’ social and welfare funds can be disbursed for the welfare of Pakistanis living in other countries, but that money will now be spent on other matters.