Reko Diq: AG questioned about Balochistan govt’s plans

SC directs AG Balochistan to apprise court of the provincial government’s plans for dealing with Reko Diq.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court directed the Advocate General (AG) Balochistan to apprise the court of the provincial government’s plans for dealing with the Reko Diq issue after consulting the chief minister.

AG Balochistan Amanullah Kinrani informed the court that former chairman Balochistan Development Authority (BDA), Atta Muhammad Jafar amended the rules and provided undue concession to BHP-Billiton. During the course of hearing, counsel for the Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) Khalid Anwar insisted that mining rights belonged to his client. He submitted that his client was given concessions in accordance with the law since the governor had authorised the chairman BDA to sign on behalf of the Balochistan government. Anwar, referring to another case said that BHP-Billiton had paid only $100 for a mining licence. The counsel was asked to conclude his arguments.

Kinrani submitted that the 12 officials who signed the agreement were removed from service. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary said the company had dictated the clauses included in the agreement. “The court should be appreciated for facing criticism in this case,” he remarked, heading a three-member bench. Anwar said that his client had invested millions of dollars in the project and it was illegal to deprive a company of mining rights after it made the investment.

Further hearing was adjourned till Friday (today).



Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2011.