From Sardar Shahab
LONDON: A UK High Court judge has ordered the government of Pakistan to pay nearly £6 million in legal costs after Pakistani representative told the court that it will not be appealing against London High Court’s decision which ruled in favour of Nizam of Hyderababad’s descendants granting them right over £35 million funds.
On Thursday, Justice Marcus Smith, sitting in the Rolls Building of the London High Court for a “consequentials hearing” ordered Pakistan to make payments, mainly to the The Nizam’s descendants, Prince Mukarram Jah, the titular eighth Nizam of Hyderabad; his younger brother Muffakham Jah; Indian government and the Natwest bank.
Pakistan has been ordered to pay £1,835,445.83 (65 per cent on account of costs) to Prince Muffakham Jah; £2,802,192.22 to India; £795,064.63 (65 per cent on account of his costs) to HEH VIII Nizam; and £367,387.90 in respect of the bank’s costs (the bank’s costs have already been paid from the fund so this payment is Pakistan reconstituting the fund in respect of those costs).
“Today’s hearing brings this litigation, which started in 2013 but where the underlying dispute dates back to in 1948, to an end at long last,” said Paul Hewitt, partner at Withers LLP, the law firm which acted for the eighth Nizam.
“We are pleased that Pakistan has decided not to contest Mr Justice Smith’s judgment. Our client His Exalted Highness the VIII Nizam will now have access to the funds which his grandfather, HEH the VII Nizam, intended him to have,” he said.
Pakistan’s legal team told this reporter that it had received instructions from the government of Pakistan not to appeal against the decision. A Pakistan High Commission source said that the matter of legal costs and the court order will be placed before the next cabinet meeting and a decision will be taken then. The source said that Pakistani government was already aware and Attorney General Anwar Mansoor held meetings in London few days ago where decision was taken not to appeal against the decision.
In October this year, Justice Marcus Smith had ruled that £35 million held in a Natwest account must go to the descendants of Indian royal Nizam of Hyderabad.
