KARACHI: “It would be in the interests of the two Dominions to come to an agreement regarding outstanding matters in connection with evacuee property. But this was possible only if India accepted the terms of the Delhi Agreement as the basis on which discussions could be continued,” says Pakistan’s Deputy Minister for Refugees and Rehabilitation, Dr Ishtiaq Husain Qureshi, in a … statement issued in Karachi yesterday … [Nov 9] on … India’s new Evacuee Property Ordinance. He adds: “It is obvious that Pakistan cannot be a party to the acceptance of violations of this agreement by India as a fait accompli.”

Dealing with Mr Gopalaswami Ayyangar’s recent statement … at Delhi that he intended to put the question of evacuee property for final decision before an Inter-Dominion conference, Dr Qureshi says he is not aware of such a suggestion having been received from … India.

He comments acidly: “It has become customary for Indian Ministers to accuse the Government of Pakistan of violations of agreements … the Inter-Dominion Agree­ment of Delhi has been violated in many respects by India and most glaringly by extending her evacuee property legislation to non-agreed areas.”

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2024