There is Jinnah House in Mumbai on which Pakistan has long had its eyes. If India allows it, it wants to house its Consulate in the building that once belonged to Pakistan’s founder. But unknown to most people, it has now become apparent that the Quaid-E-Azam had other properties too. While the Mohatta Palace in Karachi has been converted into a museum, Pakistan revenue authorities discovered some months ago that Mohammed Ali Jinnah also had a bungalow in Lahore — it is called Jinnah House too — which now serves as the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander. This has sparked off a row of sorts between the Army and civilian authorities, with the former unwilling to give up its rights to Bungalow No. 53 in Lahore Cantt. The Pakistan Army says it paid Fatima Jinnah, the sister of Pakistan’s founder, Rs 3,50,000 for the property, but the issue at hand is the sentiment that the complex must be designated a heritage property. India, of course, is relieved that there is more than one Jinnah House in the eye of the storm now.
