ISLAMABAD: Nawab of Junagarh, has asked government of Pakistan and the youth to become emissaries of Junagarh and establish a secretariat of the disputed princely state in Islamabad.
Speaking to ‘The News Today’, Nawab of Junagarh, Nawab Muhammed Jahangir Khanji said the issue of Indian-Occupied princely state of Junagarh should be addressed by the government Pakistan parallel to Jammu and Kashmir cause.
“Secretariat of Junagarh should be established in Islamabad not only to highlight the issue of liberation of the state from Indian occupation at all international forums but also to help bring the princely state closer to Pakistan,” he maintained.
Narrating the post- partition events, he explained that under Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji-III ( his grandfather) the state on 15 September, 1947 signed instrument of accession to Pakistan after approval of the state council, which had the status of assembly of the state.
On October 25, 1947, Nawab came to visit Pakistan. While he was still in Pakistan, Indian forces besieged the state and forced it to surrender, he said.
Later, India organized a so-called referendum under the shadow of guns claiming it’s illegal occupation had been legitimized.
Junagarh had a territory of 4,000 square miles and a 100 miles coastline along the Arabian Sea with best ports. Among the 562 princely states in the Sub-continent, Junagarh was the sixth richest and a welfare state that provided free education to its citizens and took responsibility of healthcare for all of them.
At the time of partition the princely states were given the choice to join either Pakistan or India. Junagarh decided to join Pakistan.
The treaty was ratified by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Under that covenant, subjects including – foreign affairs, defence and communication were given to the government of Pakistan.
Pakistan took the matter of Indian occupation of the state to the United Nations. According to Nawab Jahangir, UN Security Council in 1948 said, it would first take up issue of Jammu and Kashmir and then it would address matters related to State of Junagarh. The promise of world body is yet to be fulfilled.
“The occupation of Junagarh by India violates Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties and the state is legitimate part of Pakistan’’, he said.
He claimed that Hindu and Muslim communities in Junagarh still express their loyalties to the Nawab of Junagarh.
He said his grandfather never claimed any property or benefits in Pakistan. Nawab Jahangir Khan thanked government of Pakistan for approving and releasing a new official map, which includes territories of Jammu and Kashmir and a part of Ladakh. The map also included Junagarh and Sir Creek as part of Pakistan. This map was released on August 5, 2020.
India merged Junagharh state in Gujrat. It is 250 miles away from Karachi, having sea borders with Pakistan. After death of his father Nawab Jahangir was sworn in as Nawab of the state in exile.
In December last year Nawab appointed Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Ali who heads Muslim Institute- a think-tank, as the new premier (Dewan) of the disputed state of Junagarh.
Speaking at the oath taking ceremony at Junagarh House Karachi, new Dewan urged the people of the princely state to stand up for their freedom from India.
He hoped that the government of Pakistan will again initiate a practical struggle along with diplomatic efforts to free Junagarh from the illegal India occupation.
Nawab Khanji also hopes that appointment of a dynamic new Dewan would help highlight cause of Junagharh state effectively.
When asked does he plan to move to any international forum against Indian occupation, he said foreign policy matters of the state rest with government of Pakistan and he is waiting Islamabad to do that.
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