Jinnah’s house can't pay water bill

Karachi: The Quaid-e-Azam House Museum has been without water since 1993, because it owes a Rs 1.5 lakh water bill to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

The water connection was cut after the Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s sister Fatima Jinnah failed to pay the water bill amounting Rs 500 that remained unpaid by her since 1965. The amount has now accumulated up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

In order to meet the Museum’s daily needs, water is stolen through illegal water connections, reported the Daily Times.

"The water connection has been cut off but we have made arrangements to get water for the garden," the paper quoted Qasim Ali Qasim, the Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, as saying.

The museum was renovated at a cost of Rs 3 lakh for Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14.

The garden was carpeted with fresh grass, the air-conditioning fixed and its generator, that has been out of order since 1993, was also repaired. The museum is taken care of by 22 staff members and has an annual budget of Rs 8 lakh and 16 CCTV cameras were also put up.

The museum houses Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s Egyptian office furniture, crockery, law books and a camphor trunk presented by the Muslims of Yemen amongst other valuables.

Jinnah had bought the "Flag Staff House" (as it was called then) on March 22, 1944 for Rs 1.15 lakh, to lead his retired life in it, but never got the chance to stay in it as he passed away on September 11, 1948.

On September 13, 1948, Jinnah’s sister, Fatima moved into the house and lived there till 1964. After losing an election in 1965, she vacated the house and moved into Mohatta Palace.

In 1967, when Fatima passed away, a separate committee was set up to handle the family’s wealth. The committee was subsequently dissolved and all of Jinnah’s money was given to Jinnah’s Trustee and the house, in its deteriorating condition, was sealed.

In February 14, 1985, the Government of Pakistan purchased the house for Rs 51.07 lakh and it was declared a national heritage site.

All of Jinnah’s belongings were move into the house, and on November 25, 1993 it was declared "Quaid-e-Azam House Museum," and thrown open to the public.