Jinnah House: Can't wish away history, says Imran Khan

Pakistan cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan slammed the suggestion to demolish Jinnah House, the Mumbai mansion that was built by the country's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Indian parliamentarians' calls to demolish Jinnah House unfortunate & disturbing. History cannot be wished away by demolishing buildings.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 6, 2017

Khan's statement comes a month after Mangal Prabhat Lodha, a real estate developer and BJP legislatior said Jinnah House in South Mumbai should be demolished, in part because "the conspiracy of partition was hatched here" and that it be replaced with a cultural centre. Jinnah House is built on 2.5 acres of land estimated to be worth about $400 million.

Pakistan foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakria said in response on Tuesday that the property belonged to Pakistan's founding father, and that "ownership rights" must be respected.