However, the August 13 meeting ended in bitterness when all five Hindu dignitaries demanded that Junagadh must remain with India. Bhutto had them thrown out, claims Rupani.
Just three days later on August 16, 1947, Bhutto officially announced that Junagadh will join Pakistan.
Rupani has some invaluable material on the history of Junagadh and the Bhutto family’s role in resisting the accession of then princely State of Junagadh to India.
A brief press note (seen in the image) issued by the State press on September 10, 1947 informed, “A standstill agreement has been signed between Junagadh State and Pakistan Dominion in Karachi on September 9, 1947.” The press note was signed by Shah Nawaz.
The five agitated Hindu leaders established the Arzee Haqumat to retain Junagadh within India. So successful was revolt that eventually, in first week of November 1947, Bhutto and the Nawab escaped to Pakistan.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was born in Sindh when Shah Nawaz was serving in Junagadh. The State provided him residence in a picturesque landscape near the foothills of divine hills of Girnar.
Diwan Manzil, where the Bhutto family lived, is still erect and reminding people of Benazir’s grandfather and his controversial legacy.
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