India Lodges Protest With Pakistan After Unidentified Men Forcibly Enter Disused Indian Consulate in Karachi
India has lodged a protest with Pakistan after a group of unidentified men forcibly entered the shut Indian consulate in Karachi.
New Delhi, July 5: India has lodged a protest with Pakistan after a group of unidentified men forcibly entered the shut Indian consulate in Karachi. According to reports, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Pakistan’s deputy high commissioner Haider Shah on Thursday and informed about the incident that took place on Wednesday night. Pakistan government has been asked to remove unauthorised occupants from the premises.
A group of unidentified men allegedly threatened private guards deployed outside the Indian consulate in Karachi and forcibly entered the property. The consulate, which has been shut since 1994, is located on Fatima Jinnah Road, one of Karachi’s most prestigious areas. Describing the incident as a serious matter, the MEA, in a note verbale note to Pakistan, said any unauthorised occupants should be removed from the premises, Hindustan Times reported. Pakistan 'Action' Against Hafiz Saeed: Don't Get Fooled by Cosmetic Steps, Says India.
The Indian consulate, also known as India House, was shut in 1994 by Pakistani authorities reportedly on the direction of its military. Notably, the conspiracy for the 1993 Mumbai blasts was hatched in Karachi. India's most wanted absconder mafia don Dawood Ibrahim reportedly has his residence in the city. Pakistan later said it will allow the Indian consulate in Karachi to function if Islamabad gets to open its embassy in Mumbai. Kartarpur Corridor Meeting: India, Pakistan Officials to Meet on July 14 at Wagah.
According to Rajiv Dogra, India’s last consul general in Karachi, five properties in Karachi, including the consulate, the consul general’s residence in the upmarket Clifton area and three multi-storey buildings are owned by the country. "It’s hard to believe such a blatant attempt to occupy this building happened without the knowledge of the Pakistan government," Dogra was quoted as saying.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2019 10:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).