LHC accepts plea for reclaiming Koh-i-Noor diamond from British queen

The directions were given by Justice Khalid Mahmood Khan of the LHC. The petition was filed by Attorney Jawaid Iqbal Jafree. The LHC bench also rejected objections of the registrar office on the petition.

The judge directed the office to fix the petition before any appropriate bench for hearing. The office had objected to the maintainability of the petition, saying the LHC had no jurisdiction to hear a case against the British Queen.

India also has made regular requests for the jewel’s return, saying the diamond is an integral part of the country’s history and culture.

Britain’s then colonial governor-general of India arranged for the huge diamond to be presented to Queen Victoria in 1850, during British colonial rule.

Majority-Hindu India and majority-Muslim Pakistan became two different countries in 1947 when they became independent of Britain.

If Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William, who is second in line to the throne, eventually becomes queen consort, she will don the crown holding the diamond on official occasions.

In the last half century, Attorney Jawaid Iqbal Jafree has written over 786 letters to Queen Elizabeth and various Pakistani officials asking for the diamond’s return.

His latest high court petition notes that his letters have never been acknowledged, except once by Queen Elizabeth through her principal private secretary.

During a visit to India in 2010, British Prime Minister David Cameron said in an interview on Indian television that the diamond would stay in London.

“What tends to happen with these questions is that if you say yes to one, then you would suddenly find the British Museum empty,” he said.