UK Hyderabad fund: Both India and Pakistan claim victory

NEW DELHI: A UK High Court has rejected Indian attempt to strike out Pakistan's claim to the Hyderabad Fund, Pakistan foreign office said on Tuesday. "The 75-page judgment of Henderson J is a vindication of Pakistan's principled stance, and the effective strategy being pursued by the legal team," said a statement by Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria. Indian Ministry of External Affairs, however, had a

different take on this assertion by Pak Foreign office. "In the pre-trial judgement in a case pertaining to the monies from the erstwhile state of Hyderabad lying in a UK bank since late 1940s, an English court has dismissed Pakistan's application invoking limitation against India's claim to the monies. The judgement states that Pakistan's application for summary disposal of the claim in her favour must fail. The costs for the failure of this application of Pakistan will be awarded to India," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup noted.

Swarup further clarified, "The legal action in the matter, currently sub-judice, was initiated by Pakistan in 2013. Pakistan's subsequent application for discontinuance of the case was rejected by the same court in 2015. India was also awarded substantial costs against Pakistan at that stage. Pending trial or settlement of the matter, it is premature to reach any conclusion regarding ownership of the monies, especially as the present judgement readily acknowledges that there is much force in many of India's arguments to strike out Pakistan's claim of ownership."

Pakistan Foreign Office statement said, "The Judge accepted that there was good evidence in support of Pakistan's claim to the monies, which needed to be fully considered at a trial. The Judge also accepted that there were good legal arguments which were supportive of Pakistan's position." "Pakistan remains committed to resolving all disputes by negotiation and believes that the path to peace and progress lies in dialogue," the statement said, adding, "If the case does not settle, Pakistan is fully confident that its legal team will prevail."