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Journalism of Courage
With Pakistan unable to find a suitable site for its consulate in Mumbai, the Maharashtra government has stepped in and suggested three sites for Islamabad to make a choice.
After India politely declined the Pakistani request for Jinnah House to be turned into its Mumbai consulate, there began a property hunt and a 7,000 sq ft area in Nariman Point’s Mittal Chambers was identified.
But the Mittal Chambers premises, which belonged to VHP leader Ashok Singhal’s brother Vivek Singhal, also did not go Pakistan’s way after the building Owners’ Premises Cooperative Society blocked it, citing worries over crowds and security.
Now Maharashtra has suggested three sites: Shamkala Bungalow, Breach Candy; the third and fifth floors at Aman Chambers, Prabhadevi; and, a plot on Swami Vivekananda Road, Bandra.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary D K Shankaran has sent the list of the sites to Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had sought Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s help in expediting the process, pointing out that this would fast-track India’s own plans for its consulate in Karachi.
“The list was sent to the MEA last month. We are awaiting further instructions,” Shankaran told The Indian Express. Sources said Pakistani officials have already done an initial check of the sites .
Sources said India was awaiting official clearance to open the Karachi consulate shut since 1994. The new office is on Fatima Jinnah Road in the heart of Karachi’s Clifton area. The property has 43 rooms. The delay in reopening consular offices also figured in the meeting last year between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. —
(With Jayanth Jacob in New Delhi)
