Muhammad Sher Khan Babai was the creator of the Babi empire of Junagarh in 1654. His descendants, the Babi Nawabs of Junagarh, conquered large territories in southern Saurashtra. However, during the collapse of the Mughal Empire, the Babis became intricate in a struggle with the Gaekwad dynasty of the Maratha Kingdom over control of Gujarat during the reign of the local Mohammad Mahabat Khanji I. Mohammad Khan Bahadur Khanji I affirmed independence from the Mughal governor of Gujarat subah and established the state of Junagarh in 1730. This allowed the Babi to holdthe independence of Junagarh and other princely states. During the sovereignty of his heir, Junagarh was a tributary to the Maratha Empire until it emanated under British suzerainty in 1807 under Mohammad Hamid Khanji I, following the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
In 1947, upon the independence and division of India, the last Babi dynasty ruler of the state, Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, decided to unify Junagarh into the newly formed Pakistan. However, a designed revolt, leading to several events and also a plebiscite, resulting in the integration of Junagarh into India. Junagadh is a district in Gujarat; located on the Kathiawar Peninsula, its territory extends to the coast of the Arabian Sea.
By the end of colonial era, India was scattered with hundreds of princely states – smaller and larger princedoms that, in theory, remained autonomous from the British administration. Junagarh was a princely state of pre-partition India, and at the period of division, over 550 states were given a choice to merge either Pakistan or India. The Nawab of Junagarh consented to join Pakistan.
The ruler of Junagadh (the Nawab, Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III) was convinced to join Pakistan by his Dewan (prime minister), Shah Nawaz Bhutto. With hindsight, the decision appears a folly. The state was small and nearly entirely surrounded by Indian territory. Still, it could have theoretically retained Pakistan’s contact through the sea and air moreover, while its ruler and Dewan were Muslims. Indian troops forced the Muslim princely state to join India, against the will of rulers. The Nawab and the Dewan fled to Pakistan. The principality’s little force could not confidence to put up resistance against the Indian army. Pakistan refrained from sending its troops in support of the tiny state to avoid any confrontation.
In fact, the forced-occupation of Junagarh by India dishonored Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties, and the state should be combined with Pakistan principally.
This was stated by the nawab of Junagarh, Muhammad Jahangir Khanji, during a meeting with Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai. Sultan Muhammad Ali, the creator of the Muslim Institute, was also existent on occasion.
“The Junagarh state possesses the law of accession with Pakistan [which] meets all the criteria of an accession under the Vienna Convention on Law of Treaties,” said Nawab Khanji.
“To prove that the Junagarh state is a part of Pakistan, this accession document is important [because it is] strong and lawful evidence. The tool of accession is an international agreement, concluded between states, in written form, governed by international law, in a single instrument,” he said.
The issue of Junagarh would kept continue alive lawfully as long as the instrument of accession was intact, the nawab said.
“The federal and provincial governments of Pakistan should work together and take effective measures to get them resolved,” he said.
Governor Achakzai guaranteed Nawab Khanji that all issues significant to Pakistan would be taken up seriously and admired the sacrifices rendered by the latter’s family for keeping alive the case of Junagarh. On occasion, the nawab presented a copy of the document on the law of accession to the governor of Balochistan.
Even after 73 years still, the issue of Junaghar is not resolved yet. UN may intervene and ensure the justice and rit of law.
