KARACHI, May 15: Two different departments of the Federal government on Wednesday made conflicting claims in their rejoinders to the contentions of Shahryar M. Khan, former foreign secretary, about the status of the Bhopal House.

While the rejoinder faxed by the ministry of Housing and Works said the property in question was” purchased by the government of Pakistan from the Nawab of Bhopal for a consideration of Rs450,000 in 1958”, the message faxed by the Press Information Department said the “building had been in possession of the government of Pakistan as an evacuee property since 1947, without any objection from the claimant or anyone on his behalf uptil 1992”.

Meanwhile, when a contempt matter pertaining to Bhopal House came before Judge of the Sindh High Court he expressed dismay over the manner in which inmates of Bhopal House at Clifton were forcibly evicted allegedly at the behest of the Intelligence Bureau.