List of properties of Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Muhammad Ali Jinnah also known as Quaid-e-Azam, was the founder and first governor-general of Pakistan. He was renowned as a barrister and statesman, and played a pivotal role in the establishment of Pakistan. He gained prominence as one of the era's most highly regarded legal practitioners, commanding a fee of approximately Rs.1,500 per case. Jinnah's affluence and autonomy facilitated his ability to express his thoughts freely.

Jinnah held a profound connection to his possessions and accumulated wealth. When he ultimately departed for Pakistan, he departed from his usual meticulousness by leaving his residence, properties, and personal matters in a state of disarray. Every aspect of his ownership, spanning from his residence and servants to his financial assets, had to be entrusted to his lawyer for resolution.

Jinnah had dedicated his properties to Aligarh Muslim University, Sindh Madressatul Islam University in Karachi, and Islamia College Peshawar.

List

Jinnah owned several properties during his lifetime.

Pakistan

• Jinnah Mansion, Lahore
• Quaid-e-Azam House
• Quaid-e-Azam Residency, Balochistan
• Wazir Mansion, Karachi
• Bagh-e-Quaid-e-Azam

India

• Jinnah House, Mumbai

Jinnah also possessed a bungalow facing the sea in the upscale Malabar Hill area of South Mumbai, known as Jinnah House. The establishment was initially erected by demolishing another Goanese-style bungalow named South Court, which occupied the same spot. After his marriage to Rattanbai Petit in 1918, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his spouse made South Court their residence. However, following Rattanbai's passing, Jinnah dismantled the South Court bungalow and commenced the construction of a new dwelling. This property would later become a significant source of dispute between India and Pakistan for many years. Presently, the house is under the ownership of the Indian government, inaccessible to visitors as it remains locked and secured.

Jinnah also took up residence in a dwelling in Delhi from 1938 to 1947. Situated at 10 Aurangzeb Road, this abode is now recognized as Jinnah House. Originally constructed by Rai Bahadur Sardar Baisakha Singh in 1929, the design was orchestrated by the Bloomfield brothers, architectural collaborators of Sir Edwin Lutyens. Subsequently, Jinnah sold the property to his close associate and industrialist Ramkrishna Dalmia. Eventually, Dalmia relinquished ownership to the Government of the Netherlands for a sum of Rs 5 lakh. Presently, the edifice serves as the Dutch Embassy and is maintained in excellent condition.

England

A blue plaque honoring Jinnah can be found at 35 Russell Road in Holland Park, which was his residence around 1895. He dedicated four years to the study of law at Lincoln's Inn and achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest Indian to be admitted to the English bar at a mere 19 years of age. It was during a portion of this period, specifically in 1895, that he resided at 35 Russell Road.

Controversies

On 16 November 2021, in response to a hearing of a longstanding 50-year-old lawsuit pertaining to the assets of Jinnah and his sister – encompassing properties, shares, jewelry, automobiles, and bank holdings – a commission led by retired Justice Faheem Ahmed Siddiqui was established as per the directive of the Sindh High Court (SHC).

In India, efforts have been made to demolish properties associated with Jinnah. Notably, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, a significant figure in both the business and real estate sectors, who also serves as a BJP MLA and Mumbai city chief, has advocated for the transformation of Jinnah House into a cultural center. This proposition was initially established in 2018. Lodha, who represents the Malabar Hill constituency, has consistently expressed his stance on demolishing Jinnah House.