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Story Of Services Mess Karachi

1920 – 23

ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRUST “Karachi War Memorial Fund”

In or about the year 1920, certain officers of the then Army along with the benevolent members of the public, opened following funds and collected donations:

The Sind Branch of the Bombay Presidency War Relief Fund

The Karachi Army Welcome Fund

The Sind “Our Day” Fund

On 22 September 1920, a Trust Deed in respect of above-mentioned three funds, known as “Karachi War Memorial Fund” was executed and the Hon’able Mr. Patrick Reber Cadell, the then Commissioner in Sind and some others were appointed the first Trustees of the said Trust (Karachi War Memorial Fund).

OBJECTS OF THE TRUST

The objects of the Trust were:

To acquire sites and construct and equip buildings thereon to be used as Hostels and Institutions for the use of the British and Indian troops and their dependents.

To maintain such Hostels and Institutions.

To expend, if occasion arises to do so, sums on the entertainment of troops returning to Karachi from the theatres of war and for the relief of cases of distress arising out of the war to the extent of an amount of Rs.18,000/- for such entertainment of troops and Rs.30,000/- for their relief of the cases of distress.

1923 - 33

ESTABLISHMENT OF “BRITISH UNION JACK CLUB”

In pursuance of the objects of the Karachi War Memorial Fund, the then Trustees of the Trust, opened a club for British and Indian troops in the name and style of “British Union Jack Club” in the year 1923 which was run in a rented building for about ten years.

1933 – 58

ACQUIRING LAND AND CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING"

Due to various reasons, the then Trustees considered that in the best interest of the Karachi War Memorial Fund, the British Union Jack Club be housed in a building of its own instead of rented building. As such the Trustees approached to the Secretary of the State of India to seek permission for allotment of the site for construction of the “Club House” for the said British Union Jack Club. The Trustees got permission from the Secretary of the State of India and acquired a plot of land bearing Plot No. 17, Sheet No. CL-5 of the Karachi City Survey of 1921-22 in the Civil Lines Quarters of the City of Karachi, in the Registration District, admeasuring about 15,000 square yards under Lease Deed dated 22 April 1933.

The Trustees started construction of the building on the said plot of land and the “British Union Jack Club” already established by the Trustees was shifted from the rented building to the newly constructed building for the benefits of British and Indian troops and their dependents.

STATUS OF THE LAND AND CLUB AFTER PARTITION

The British Sovereignty ended in the Indo-Pak Sub-continent and a separate sovereign state of “Pakistan” came into being on 14 August 1947 with total independence.

Keeping in view the urgent need of officers accommodation, in 1955 the then H.M. Defence (General Muhammad Ayub Khan) decided to establish officers residential clubs in places like Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore. These clubs were to be social and recreational centres for both single and married officers of the Armed Forces and their families. And handed over to Three Services (Army, Navy and Air Force) with the directives to put up concrete proposals and care be taken that these clubs must be self-supporting for maintenance.

In the light of the recommendations of the committee, the construction of building and establishment of club in Karachi was given the first priority because of its importance from the Inter-services aspects. Rawalpindi and Lahore were given the second and third priority respectively. The recommendations of the committee for establishment and construction of clubs are as under:

Karachi:
The committee recommended that the British Union Jack Club be taken over as it is ideally situated and even if the Federal Capital is moved to Gadap in the foreseeable future, Karachi would continue to be of importance to the Three Services because of the location of a very large number of Naval, Army and Air Force units in the Karachi Cantonment and its vicinity. It was decided that the British Union Jack Club presently under the management of the Trust (Karachi War Memorial Fund) may be taken in possession for use as “Defence Services Club” according to the provisions of the Lease Deed on payment of compensation to the Trustees. The Trustees agreed to hand over the club to the Ministry of Defence on payment of compensation.

Rawalpindi:
The vacant piece of land opposite General Headquarters was some 30 acres in area or more and that even after allowing some 8 acres of land for the club purposes on the Strathairn Road side, it was also decided that ample area also be left for the extension of the existing stadium on the Murree Road side.

Lahore:
It was decided to add a residential wing to the existing club. The public rooms of the club were adequate and it had a swimming pool, tennis court and squash court. The GOC 10 Division and Station Commander were willing for this club to be converted into an “Inter-Services Club”.

1958 – Till to-date

TOOKING OVER OF THE CLUB BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"

In the year 1958, the Ministry of Defence, Government of Pakistan took over the British Union Jack Club from the Trustees of the Karachi War Memorial Fund and renamed it as “Services Club Karachi” (later on further renamed as Services Mess) and declared the status of club as under:

The land on which “Services Club” is now situated and the building thereon have, on resumption by Government and payment of compensation to the Karachi War Memorial Fund Trust, become “Government Property”.

The “Services Club” is a Government established body situated on Government premises.

OBJECTS OF THE CLUB / MESS

The objects of the Club / Mess are as under:

To provide temporary residential accommodation to the officers of the Armed Forces of Pakistan and their families in the shape of married and single officers’ quarters.

Provisioning of Indoor / Outdoor games and other recreational facilities for rest, recreation and entertainment of officers of the Armed Forces of Pakistan and their families on nominal charges.

To do all such things, incidental or conducive for attainment of the above objects.

Any other object, which may be decided upon at meeting of the Managing Committee.

The income and property of the Club / Mess when so ever derived, shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Club / Mess as set forth in the Rules of the Club / Mess.

MANAGING COMMITTEE OF THE SERVICES CLUB / MESS

The Ministry of Defence constituted a Managing Committee for Services Club / Mess, consisting of high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces of Pakistan. The general control and direction of the policy, affairs, funds and property of the Club / Mess have been vested to the said Managing Committee.

MEETINGS OF THE MANAGING COMMITTEE

After taking over the Club / Mess by Ministry of Defence in 1958, the Managing Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Defence, is holding its meetings regularly to run affairs of the Club / Mess. The first meeting of the Managing Committee was held on 02 September 1958 and up-till-now (2006), 173 meetings of the Managing Committee have been held.

POWERS OF THE MANAGING COMMITTEE

As per directives of the Ministry of Defence, Managing Committee shall exercise the following powers:

The Managing Committee may coopt any other member of the Services Club / Mess to attend its meeting for advice and assistance but such member shall not have any right of vote in the Committee.

The Managing Committee will exercise general control on the affairs of the Club and shall have authority on behalf of the President of Pakistan to do and perform acts, deeds and things may be consistent with and necessary to attain the aims and objects of the club and to allow the occupation of its shops or premises on licence but may not create tenancy or proprietary rights therein in favour of any other party without special permission and sanction of the Government.

membership and remove any person from the membership of the Club / Mess by the majority of votes without assigning any reasons.

The President of the Managing Committee of Services Club / Mess is authorised to bring or defend a suit in a court of law on behalf of the President of Pakistan.

The Managing Committee, in addition to funds that have devolved or may hereafter devolve from the Karachi War Memorial Fund Trust, also administer the funds placed at its disposal by the Government for reconstruction and maintenance of the Club / Mess premises.

Rules and Byelaws made or to be made by the Central Body or the Managing Committee of the Services Club / Mess will be deemed to have been made with the approval of the Central Government, except those which go against the spirit of these orders or the interest of the Government of Pakistan which shall stand cancelled.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE CLUB / MESS

All officers of the Pakistan Armed Forces (serving, retired, leave preparatory to retirement, non-serving officers of their reserves, holding Honorary Commission) are eligible for Membership of the Club / Mess. In addition, serving civilian officers (Gazetted Class-I), paid from the Defence Services Estimates, officers of the Pakistan Medical Nursing Services and the Pakistan Women’s National Guards are also eligible for Membership of the Club / Mess.

NOMENCLATURE OF THE CLUB / MESS

The existing and previous nomenclatures of the Services Club / Mess were / are as under:

British Union Jack Club:

From 1923 to 1958, under the Management of a Trust known as Karachi War Memorial Fund.

Services Club Karachi:

From 1958 to 1991, under the management of a Managing Committee, executed by the Ministry of Defence, Government of Pakistan.

Services Mess Karachi:

From 1991 till to-date, under the management of same Managing Committee as mentioned above.

STATUS OF THE TRUST FUNDS

SUBMISSION OF PETITION IN THE COURT

In 1958, after taking over of the Services Club / Mess by the Government of Pakistan, the Trustees of the Karachi War Memorial Fund, submitted a Petition vide Miscellaneous Application No. 160 of 1958, before the Court of the then District Judge Karachi, stating:

That the Trustees feel that there were no British and Indian troops and no more British and Indian troops returning to Karachi from the theatres of war, who would be required to be entertained and no relief was to be given to such troops as envisaged by the Trust Deed.

That the said “Club House” is know known as the “Services Club” and the same is being used for the benefits of the officers of the Armed Forces of Pakistan. The management of the Services Club has been entrusted to the Managing Committee, consisting on officers of the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

That the objects of the Trust (Karachi War Memorial Fund) have now become defunct, therefore, permission may be granted to hand over the funds and the properties presently in the hands of the Trustees to the Managing Committee of the Services Club for the benefits of the officers of the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

PROCEEDINGS AND ORDERS OF THE COURT

Keeping in view the facts stated in the Appeal, the District Judge, Karachi adopted following procedure:

Notices were issued to the Chiefs of the Armed Forces of Pakistan, the Attorney General of Pakistan, the Public Prosecutor of the Karachi, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, the Station Commander and to the public at large by publication in the “Dawn” newspaper.

The representatives of the Three Services (Army, Navy and Air Force) appeared before the Court and submitted that they had “No Objection” to the grant of the Petition.

After complete satisfaction of the Court that the objects with which the original Trust was created have now become defunct and as the Management of the said “Services Club” is in the hands of the Managing Committee, consisting on high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces of Pakistan, the permission was granted to the Trustees to hand over the trust funds and properties to the Managing Committee of the Services Club.

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