Earlier, a petition the SC was informed about the planes landing on the airport in the region and concerns were conveyed regarding the provincial government's lack of knowledge with regards to the equipment being flown in.
Updated from print edition (below)
Reko Diq case: Tethyan Copper has private airport, SC told
The Tethyan Copper Company has constructed a private airport on an area spreading over seven kilometres in Balochistan, the Supreme Court was informed on Wednesday.
The Government of Balochistan is not aware of the planes landing at the airport, which is extremely dangerous for the country’s security, petitioner in the Reko Diq case, Tariq Asad argued. It is the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority to look into the matter, the chief justice observed.
Meanwhile hearing a case on the chairman NAB’s appointment, Justice Javed Iqbal said: “Does the president lose the prerogative to appoint Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the absence of a consensus?”
Counsel for the federation Abdul Hafiz Pirzada argued that the president appointed Chairman NAB on the PM’s advice.
The PM’s statement to the press and the summary presented by the Attorney-General of Pakistan contradict each other, the court observed.
The Supreme Court had decided that press statements constitute sufficient evidence, provided they are not contradicted, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed.
It is mandatory for the PM to participate in the consultation process, he cannot send his advice through a subordinate, Justice Asif Khosa added.
According to section six of the NAB Ordinance, the opposition leader has to be consulted for the appointment of Chairman NAB. He was ignored in violation of article 48 of the Constitution. The court adjourned the hearings till today (Thursday).
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2011.
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