KARACHI, Nov 7: Government agencies are responsible for safe keeping of the record of immovable properties, particularly when they are claimed to be owned by foreign states or their nationals, the plaintiff’s counsel argued in the former Indian High Commission building case on Friday.

Advocate Raja Qureshi submitted before Justice Ataur Rahman that it was for the official agencies concerned to produce original documents relating to the property, plot number 63 and 63/1, Old Clifton. Even if the record was missing, the government could not shift responsibility to a bona fide purchaser.

Advocate-General Mansoor Anwar Khan submitted that the plaintiff and the person he drew his title from had to produce genuine documents to establish their right to the property. They had failed to explain how Ms Lateefan, who was the source of all subsequent transactions, came into possession of the disputed property from the late Indian President Rajendra Prasad. The plaintiff could not maintain his suit without an explanation. Insofar as the official record was concerned, there was no doubt that the property still belonged to the Indian government and that Pakistan was bound to protect its ownership.

The court asked the counsel to establish the validity of Karim Ghulam Hussain Jiva’s title to the property to justify his agreement to sell it to Syed Ali Baqar Naqvi, the plaintiff, and adjourned further hearing to Nov 12.

ORDER RESERVED: A division bench of the Sindh High Court on Friday reserved order on a writ petition challenging the recent byelection of the Dadu district council deputy nazim.