LAHORE, Nov 2: The Lahore High Court on Friday taking up a petition for the return of historic Kohinoor diamond allowed the petitioner to amend the petition to make the federal ministry of culture and tourism as party.

Petitioner Advocate M.D. Tahir submitted that it was the tradition of the nations that they protected and preserved their historical monuments and heritage as the same were considered their precious property and not allowed the same to remain in the custody of other nations.

He submitted that the Kohinoor, the largest and the most precious in the world, was the legacy of Muslims of the sub-continent as lastly it was with Mughal emperors of India. He said during the British occupation of the sub-continent, it was taken away to Britain by the then UK rulers, and presently the same was studded in the crown of the Queen.

“The British government has absolutely no legal right to keep this diamond with them,” he stated.

He contended that the Kohinoor belonged to the Muslims, therefore, only Pakistan had a legitimate claim on the same and not the Hindus of India. “It may be noted that no claim or effort for the custody of the Kohinoor seems to have ever been made by Pakistan,” the petitioner said.

He requested that the respondents had been urged to take up the matter with the British government and demand the return of the diamond back without any delay. In case the British government was not ready to return the same, the matter should be dealt with according to the international law and the UNO Charter and should be raised before proper international fora or institutions.

The petitioner prayed that if no efforts had yet been made, the respondents be directed to demand the Kohinoor back from the British government, and in case it did not accede to the claim, the respondents may graciously be directed to raise the matter at the proper international fora or institutions for its return.—APP