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LAHORE: Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan of the Lahore High Court on Monday overruled the registrar office’s objection to a petition seeking directions for the federal government to bring back Koh-i-Noor diamond from British Queen Elizabeth-II.
The judge directed the office to fix the petition before any appropriate bench for hearing. The office had objected to the maintainability of the petition, saying the LHC had no jurisdiction to hear a case against the British Queen.
Barrister Javed Iqbal Jaffery had filed the petition alleging that the British had snatched the diamond from Dalip Singh and took it to the United Kingdom. He said the diamond had become part of the crown of Queen Elizabeth-II at the time of her crowning in 1953.
The lawyer said Queen Elizabeth had no right to have the Koh-i-Noor diamond as it was a cultural heritage of Punjab and its citizens owned it. He asked the court to direct the government, being member of the Commonwealth countries, to bring the diamond back to Pakistan.
Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2016
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Comments (49) Closed
Feb 09, 2016 08:21am
The Koh-i-Noor needs to be returned to the people of Panjab and especially Lahore. It would be a great restitution on the part of the Britain of a shameful part of history. #BringKohinoorbackhome
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Feb 09, 2016 08:21am
Kohi-I-Noor diamond was mined from Kollur Mines, in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, South India & it belonged to the Kakitya Dynasty. Therefore it is prudent and unequivocal to say that this diamond belongs to INDIA!!.
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Feb 09, 2016 08:37am
How many times we indulge in self-pampering and then expect others to gratify our excessive indulgence, that sounds so ridiculous in reality!
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Feb 09, 2016 08:45am
Why curse UK, you also believe in ' Mal-e- Ganimat.'!By the way Koh-e-Noor originated from Hyderabad (India) and was mined from Golcanda(AP)
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Feb 09, 2016 08:54am
Good logic - British snatched it from the local people. They also snatched life out of many, what are you going to do about it ?
And if my memory serve me correct, this diamond was mined from Jharkand or Golkanda, do they have a bigger right to it ?
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Feb 09, 2016 09:02am
Even if Britain agrees, it will ask india and Pakistan to decide who the rightful owner is . And in doing so will keep it till eternity.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:05am
Pakistan really needs Kohinoor. Already lots of problem due to rise in population.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:19am
The British didn't snatch it. Someone British stole it.
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Feb 09, 2016 09:54am
Let's suppose for a minute it even ends up back in Pakistan (highly unlikely). I will guarantee it will not stay in Pakistan for too long, but end up in some's locker in Switzerland.
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Feb 09, 2016 10:17am
The lawyer who filed petition should be penalized for wasting the precious time of judiciary on no issues. Tens of thousands cases are pending that need immediate attention.
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Feb 09, 2016 10:46am
Its not just the matter of Kohinoor alone, there are numerous other artifacts and articles of cultural and historical importance and value that were removed (snatched, stolen, captured or taken forcibly) by the colonialist powers during their oppressive subjugation of the local populations spread over centuries. Such items are shamelessly displayed by the many so called civilized and democratic countries of the world in their museums, the British Museum in London being in the forefront.
This is a sensitive issue and needs to be taken up by the affected countries collectively in the United Nations to test the world conscience.
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Feb 09, 2016 10:53am
The then ruler of Punjab snatched it from Shah shuka of Afghanistan so it belongs to Afghanistan just saying.
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Feb 09, 2016 10:57am
KOHINOOR belongs to Pakistan??? think it again
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Feb 09, 2016 11:04am
Throw the issue in UNESCO's court and see what the collective conscience of the world has to say in the matter.
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Feb 09, 2016 11:08am
How far do you want to take this back? The Brits got it from the Sikhs of Punjab who got it from the Afghans who got it from the Mongols who got it from the Sultanate in Delhi wo got it from a Hindu kingdom in south India. And I doubt anyone knows how many times it changed hands before that.
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Feb 09, 2016 11:11am
@Pune-India ....Even the names INDIA and HINDU are derived from Indus river, Indus Valley civilization & Sindh which are in present Pakistan. So where are you getting at??
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Feb 09, 2016 11:13am
Better this diamond stays in Britain as soon as it lands in Pakistan it will be divided into pieces and sold for money due to corruption in Pakistan and no one can trace it. At least it's safe in Britain.
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Feb 09, 2016 11:34am
There is a rumour that a petition is being prepared in the High Court in London demanding that the governments of both India and Pakistan compensate the British for all the magnificent buildings, telegraph, railways, roads such as the Grand Trunk Road, bridges and other infrastructure they erected, as well as the cotton, tea and other industries that were built with investment from Old Blighty, not to mention schools that educated generations that have allowed both nations to get where they are. Who decides where the cycle or circle begins or ends? Just saying! PS: Ultra-serious folk please check definition of sarcasm.
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Feb 09, 2016 11:50am
@Santosh Menon although I think the petition is a dumb idea, but dude, ownership counts. It belongs to Lahore - as that was the last seat of the Maharaja who owned it last.
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Feb 09, 2016 12:01pm
Koh e Noor had been in the hands of Muslims since the timesof Delhi Sultanate, went on to Moghal Sultanate, then to Nadir Shah, then to Abdali and some how ended up in Lahore in the 19th century. The British then took it from Lahore Fort. It should be given back from where it was taken: Lahore, Pakistan!
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Feb 09, 2016 12:13pm
What you do with Koh-e-noor ? produce electricity.
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Feb 09, 2016 12:36pm
Even if LHC rules in favor of the petitioner or Pak Government, it is not as if the Queen will simply had it over. If anyone thinks otherwise, doesn't understand the word 'sovereign' or is delusional at best.
And in the scheme of things, no one is more 'sovereign' than the British Royal family. I seriously doubt Pakistani government wants to have a diplomatic row with Britain over this.
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Feb 09, 2016 12:41pm
It really does not mtter from where the diamond was mined. Where it was taken from matter. It was taken from Lahore and should be returned to Lahore. India's claim is false.
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Feb 09, 2016 12:56pm
After 68 years the petition for kohinoor has been lodge for its ownership - we are making a fool of ourself - will the court judgement make any affect on the British government? This petition should be lodged in the British court for its rightful owner
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Feb 09, 2016 12:57pm
seriously...who cares !!!!
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Feb 09, 2016 01:13pm
Shoot arrow in the air. Never know where it lands.
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Feb 09, 2016 01:17pm
LHC accepts plea to bring Koh-i-Noor back... is it some kind of a joke... Pleases bring justice at home first... The billions of dollars that is embezzled, looted ,plundered cannot be brought back... we are expecting Kon-e- noor.... WOW ... Folks.. The true identity of theft, loot, plunder is not financial. It's not in cyberspace. It's spiritual. It's been taken. taken away, away away very far away.it is a case of no return....
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Feb 09, 2016 01:20pm
It belongs to Pakistan....any linkage with Pakistan makes it naturally a Pakistani asset. In same way Kashmir also belongs... rite ..get happy
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Feb 09, 2016 01:36pm
ok well done LHC for accepting this petition .... will you be able to bring it back really ?. such a kiddish idea was floated around in India, few months back.... why this petitioner is following such a stupid ideas as well know we cannot bring it back.... we couldn't even bring back our people who are wanted in fraud and murder cases, who will take pain for a stone ?. lolz.
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Feb 09, 2016 01:41pm
not wise at all. the british are already "in the mood" on pakistanis and islamics in general. pakistan needs british to import from pakistan. we need money not diamond. do not irritate them. the royal family will eventually go into ruins.
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Feb 09, 2016 01:43pm
I think it should be a joint ownership of India and Pakistan. Six months here and six months there!
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Feb 09, 2016 02:34pm
@ka Lands in news papers.
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Feb 09, 2016 02:51pm
British will again play divide and rule. They will say that they are agree to give Kohinoor but to whom is a matter of dispute . So for time being it can't be given to anybody.
As an Indian I support Pakistan's claim. The time is to be united against our common oppressor like our forefathers who fought united against British in 1857.
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Feb 09, 2016 03:10pm
@sfomann . Thats a good idea but india will not honour the treaty as in tge case of bcci.
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Feb 09, 2016 03:14pm
@Santosh Menon its should be inherited by the descendant of thats times rulers, if they have vanished then. pakistan and india should build a museum over no mans land bordering india and pakistan and diamond should be placed there.
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Feb 09, 2016 03:38pm
@Just here Pakistan itself is derived out of India. Where are you? Where was Pakistan, the present day Pakistan is perfectly Indian Land. Just bcoz of partition Indus doesn't in any way belong to you. Irrespective of its flow, Indus still originates in India.
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Feb 09, 2016 03:42pm
Pakistan should raise this issue alongwith Kashmir issue regularly at UN Forum regularly at least one will get their attention then.
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Feb 09, 2016 03:46pm
@Aditya well said my brother , I don't mind it going to India either ! we want it back from the Brits that's the bottom line.... together we are unstoppable , unfortunately am day dreaming!! :)
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Feb 09, 2016 03:58pm
@Khwarezmi It was taken from Lahore - agreed. But Lahore (and in fact whole of Pakistan) was part of India then - so? You argument fails there.
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Feb 09, 2016 03:59pm
@YOUKNOWIMRIGHT
Grand Trunk Road was laid by Sher Shah Suri - nothing to do with the British.
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Feb 09, 2016 04:09pm
What a waste! Don't you have anything better to do? What is this going to achieve? Another diversion from the real problems?
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Feb 09, 2016 04:13pm
LOL! What is Pakistan's modus operandi in getting the diamond?
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Feb 09, 2016 04:14pm
@Just here Kohinoor was take away by Britisher from India. That time Pakistan was not existed on earth. So it belongs to India.
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Feb 09, 2016 04:41pm
@Mahmood absolutely correct
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Feb 09, 2016 05:54pm
Leave it there, it's much safer in England
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Feb 09, 2016 07:58pm
We do not want another war between Pakistan and India because of this diamond.
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Feb 10, 2016 01:55am
My plea to UK government to keep Koh-i-Noor, but please return Pakistan money which is stolen by our corrupt politicians. This is true actually money of poor Pakistanis.
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Feb 10, 2016 06:23am
What a fantastic joke no doubt people are wonderful.
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Feb 10, 2016 08:04am
it is a commendable endeavour by Barrister
Jafari. it is a heritage of pakistan.
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