ISLAMABAD: Urging the government to discuss water rights issue with India, the Senate standing committee on Cabinet Secretariat has sought the immediate arrest of former Indus water commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah for not protecting Pakistan’s water rights.
The Senate committee, while discussing issues relating to floods, and rehabilitation of earthquake victims on Wednesday, said Shah was reponsible for the country's water woes.
“The government should have arrested Jamaat Ali Shah. He is the man behind Pakistan’s waters woes,” accused panel chairperson Kalsoom Parveen.
Parveen added that India was constructing more dams in Indian held Kashmir in violation of the Indus Water Treaty and other international agreements between the two countries.
Shah was removed from office in 2010 after being accused of not protecting the country’s water rights as he allegedly did not pursue the case put forward by Pakistan against the construction of the Kishenganga dam by India on the Neelam River.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered a case against Shah for allegedly acting as an agent of India by allowing it to build the Nimoo Bazgo Dam. However, he had left for Canada by then.
According to sources, the FIA and Pakistan’s intelligence agencies believed Shah acted maliciously to allow India a ‘free hand’ to build the 57-metre high hydropower project in Leh district, which some believe caused great damage to the water interests of the country.
The federal government is reportedly in contact with Interpol for repatriation of Shah from Canada.
National Flood Protection Plan (2015-25)
Federal Flood Commission Chairman Asjad Imtiaz informed the panel that a National Flood Protection Plan (2015-25) was being prepared.
He said the commission would complete its work plan about structural and non-structural measures, flood plan mapping and zoning, and automation of flood reporting system by January 31, 2015.
Damage caused by floods
NDMA chairman Major General Muhammad Saeed Aleem briefed the committee that so far 360 people died, 646 people got injured while 4,065 villages due to the recent floods in Pakistan.
“Damage was caused due to flash floods, landslides, urban flooding, as well as river flooding,” he said.
In response to a question, he said this year’s monsoon rainfall was not experienced in Suleiman Range and only River Ravi, Jhelum and Chenab experienced flooding owing to release of excess water from India.
Rehabilitation of earthquake victims
Brigadier Wajid Raza, the acting deputy chairman of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA), informed lawmakers that 67% rehabilitation work had been completed in the areas affected by 2005 earthquake, whereas the rest was still in progress.
Raza complained that ERRA was not being given the authority to work on New Balakot City Project properly, and until now only 14% of the land was given under control of the authority.
“86% of project’s land is disputed and hence ERRA is denied the permission to work,” he said.
In response to Senators’ queries about the reasons of the hurdles, he said the ERRA had also sought help of top officials for uplift of continuing projects but no concrete steps were initiated so far.
COMMENTS (10)
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The article contains non-factual information about Mr. Jamaat Ali Shah and translates to damaging his credibility and image. The write shall be held accountable by filing a defamation suit. The media should only report facts and not lies to sensationalize the news to sell their paper.
Sensational dramas, conspiratorial theories, meaningless time wastage in past glories, discussing about Pakistan ka matlaband kya, blind faith, negative thinking and blind patriotism has become center stage in Pakistan. It is sad and we pray that sooner this ends for peace,education and economics sooner the subcontinent will shine and rise.
India has every right to construct dams as per the annexure of the Indus water treaty. And International tribunal has proved Pakistan wrong. In Pakistan, even a senate committee is untrustworthy? They should have done an unbiased investigation. Instead they depend on anecdotes and hearsay. They are finding a scape-goat for their mistakes, corruption and failure to invest in flood control and other measures.
@Parvez: Parvez ask who has not taken money. That is heritage Indians and Pakistanis share.
Arresting Jamaat Ali Shah. is akin to shooting the messenger because the message is bad India does not need Jamaat Ali Shah.'s or anyone else's permission in Pakistan to build any dam in India. And t is wishful thinking on the part of the hallowed Senate Committee to think that India would have paid heed to protests by Jamaat Ali Shah. or anyone else. History roves otherwise. Its India's sovereign territory and we do what we like. If Pakistan wants us to be good to you, be good to us first. Give us what we want and we will consider giving you at least some of what you may desire.
Excess water released from India in western rivers??? Did India pump the water from Arabian sea to these rivers??? For your information, there was a heavy rainfall which was not seen in last 65 years. Don't you think it filled up the rivers and India had to let it go otherwise it would have caused havoc for the dear Kashmiris of Pakistan ? Or Are these people implying that India should have hold all the water and let Indian State of Kashmir flooded more as long as Pakistan punjab was not flooded? Why can't Pakistan find competent people for such important departments ?
67% rehabilitation work had been completed in the areas affected by 2005 earthquake says it all. It's been 9 yrs.
He's taken his money, stabbed Pakistan in the back and gone.........most likely he has dual nationality. The person to catch and punish is the person who appointed him.
This Senate Committee want India to divert the water to their other rivers. These fellows don't know even basics of water flows.