indian keen on buying the historic resident of pakistan’s founfin father
KARACHI: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s former residence near royal palaces in London has been put up for sale but the government of Pakistan (GoP) has expressed inability to buy the historical home while Indians are keen to acquire it, a property developer in London said in an interview on telephone.
“We will give preference to the GoP or a Pakistani for the deal, which may be as cheap as 1.5 million pounds sterling,” London-based property developer Khalid Hasan of Al-Hamd Associates told The News on telephone and faxed details.
The seller had approached the GoP to buy the historical property in which the Quaid lived between February 1893 to July 1896, said Khalid as he explained the salient features of the property, a former Kensington residence of M A Jinnah, the Founder of Pakistan, a freehold vacant terraced property at 35 Russell Road, Kensington, London W14, within a 12minute walking distance to Kensington Olympia Station and also at 12-minute distance from Kensington Palace.
“This historical property comprises of basement, ground, first and second floor in a popular residential area,” Khalid said out of sheer patriotism and added: “The property is also benefited with a rear private garden, which leads to the communal garden.”
“To Assist potential buyers, the management is quoting a guide price of 1.5 million pounds sterling and is seeking offers in excess of this figure,” Khalid said and added: “The buyer will be responsible for the vendor’s legal costs.”
An offer must be in writing and should reach to M A Jinnah House, 35 Russell Road, Kensington, London W14 8HU as soon as possible, he said lamenting lack of interest from Pakistanis for the valuable property, where a big round plaque on behalf of London County Council reads “Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah 1876-1948, founder of Pakistan, stayed here in 1895”.
“The Indians are keen to buy as they want to develop the property at one of the most important place, frequented by thousands of people,” he said as he gave details of the redbrick building having 14 rooms. The property was probably built in 1825. It is owned by an American Pakistan, according to Khalid.
Disappointed by the GoP’s lack of interest, he said a deputy secretary of archaeological department had written a letter to Khalid Hasan in which he had stated that the GoP had given due consideration to the proposal and did not find it feasible because of local by-laws.
Khalid said he had also approached recently the High Commissioner of Pakistan in the United Kingdom but did not get an encouraging response for the property.
“It is our setback that neither the Pakistani government nor Pakistani community has come forward to purchase the property,” Khalid said and added: “Therefore, the owner has put the Quaid’s Monument for sale in open market and is in the process of negotiation with an interested party, who is a property developer and a non-Pakistani.”
“Although this decision of the owner is very painful for himself but the Government of Pakistan did not leave any alternative but to accept this existing offer,” Khalid said and added: “I request you to please bring this matter into the knowledge of the government and the people of Pakistan.”
One Pakistani developer said the property could be a good museum for Pakistani descendants living in Britain and had not visited the country of their origin.
“I appeal to Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to consider the proposal and buy the historical property,” said Pakistani developer Rashid Qureshi.