KARACHI, March 24: Liaquat Merchant, grandnephew of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, has categorically denied any knowledge of one, Mr Mohammad Aslam Jinnah, being grandson of the Quaid.
He has also denied having any knowledge of one, Mrs Saeeda, as being daughter of the Quaid's elder brother Jan Mohammad Nathoo Poonja. Mr Merchant has described as 'incorrect' the claims contained in a report appearing in a section of press on Wednesday.
In an interview with PPI on Wednesday, Mr Merchant said Nusli Wadia, a prominent industrialist residing in Mumbai, was a son of the Quaid's daughter, Mrs Dina Wadia. He said he had met Mrs Dina Wadia and been in contact with her, but he had never met Mr Nusli Wadia.
According to Mr Merchant, the name of the Quaid's father is Jina Poonja and names of his brothers are Mr Walji Poonja and Nathoo Poonja. The descendants of Walji Poonja settled in Karachi are Mohammad Ali, Jaffer Ali, Hussein Ali and Ghulam Ali (all deceased). Mr Amir Ali son of Hussainali Gangji Walji presently lives in Karachi.
Family of Quaid-i-Azam comprises his daughter Mrs Dina Wadia and her son Nusli Wadia. The Quaid's sisters are Rehmatbai, Mariambai, Ahmed Shirinbai and Fatima Jinnah. His brother Bande Ali died.
Jina Poonja had seven children. The children of the Quaid's sisters Rehmatbai, Mariambai and Shirinbai are no more alive. The daughter of Ahmed Jinnah lives in Switzerland while Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah did not marry.
The grandchildren of Quaid's sister Mariambai, presently living in Karachi, are Kulsoom Ibrahim, Zehra Chandoo, Gulshan Chandoo, Abbas Peerbhoy, Rohina Peerbhoy, Liaquat Merchant, Hussein Ibrahim and Moonira Kassam.
Some grandchildren of Rehmatbai and Mariambai live in India. Another relative, Amir Ali son of Hussein Gangji Walji, grandson of Quaid's paternal uncle Walji Poonja, also lives in Karachi.
He said some other relatives, through marriage, of Nathoo Poonja - Jena Bai, daughter-in-law of Nathoo Poonja, and Shirinbai, her daughter - resided in Karachi and both of them have since passed away. Their descendents resided in Karachi, he added. - PPI