Robina Shah, a representative from Chagai district, Balochistan, complained before the Supreme Court on Monday that the Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) is poisoning and endangering the environment of the area by mining Reko Diq without adopting any safety measures.
Shah, who claims to represent one of the oldest tribes of the area, appeared before the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by the chief justice to record her grievances.
According to her, TCC is poisoning the grazing area meant for cattle by using cyanide for the smelting process that separates gold from copper.
“People are getting sick and cancer is wide spread,” she said.
During the hearing, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed repeatedly asked the representative of the TCC, Khalid Anwar, why the company is claiming mining rights over an additional 12 deposits spread over 99 km of area when they have submitted feasibility studies for only two deposits, namely H-14 and H-15. Advocate General of Balochistan Amanullah Kamrani also supported Robina Shah’s view and said that a major reason for not extending the leasing license was the absence of a filed environmental impact assessment study by the TCC under the Environment Protection Act 1997.
“People of [the] tribe would not allow the loot and plunder of the national wealth just like that,” Shah said, adding that locals were being ignored and were deprived of jobs and other basic facilities. According to her, few jobs went to the supporters and workers of the PML-Q and alleged that the agreement was signed during the tenure of former President Pervez Musharraf.
“We are not against foreign investment but the people of the area should also benefit from the exploits of their lands.”
Shah said that the urgency of the matter has forced her to raise her voice in court and, in doing so, disregard tribal tradition which does not allow women to speak up for such issues.
Shah could not provide any solid evidence even though the court asked for substantive proof against the allegations.
Background of the Reko Diq case
The court is currently hearing a petition filed by Dr Abdul Haq Baloch seeking a restraining order against the federal and provincial governments from participating in the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) which are seized with disputes between Pakistan and the TCC for not renewing prospective Reko Diq Minerals License in accordance with Balochistan Mining Rules 2002.
TCC - a Canadian and Chilean consortium of Barrick Gold and Antofagasta Minerals formed to explore gold and copper - had invoked the jurisdiction of the ICC and ICSID for not extending the mining license.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2012.
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Nice to see that the readers have common sense and can understand how ridiculous this "Robina Shah" sounds, if there really such a person. It is sufficient to read the news reports, articles and TCC reports to know, that there never have been ANY mining, or metallurgical processes carried out at Reko Diq. Not a single gramm of cynide has been brought there. All activity that TCC carried out was related to drilling and exploration. What worries, is that many so called journalists in this and other media are eagerly publishing these lies, without even trying to explain the truth to the people. It is clearly becoming a political case, nothing to do with providing local people with jobs or resources. Seems that Chinese are becoming dear friends... just look at what is going on at Saindak.
So the argument goes something like this : The locals aren't getting sufficient benefit from the mining operation - the mining operation uses cyanide which sounds nasty and might be harming our health although we have no real evidence that supports that contention (cyanide is std method of leaching gold throughout the World and when properly used has zero impact on health of nearby communities) - and why we don't mind foreigners investing we don't think it appropriate that they can use international arbitration to settle legal disputes. The SC should dismiss this lawsuit for lack of merit - further - the international arbitration is going to take place regardless of what the SC has to say. The arbitration and whether Pakistan abides by the ruling will decide the fate of this project - no international investor will touch the project until this issue is resolved.
As part of its treaty obligations, Pakistan does not have a choice but to participate in ICSID & ICC arbitration and our government and courts are legally bound to recognize and give effect to the arbital decisions of these tribunals. Sadly, Pakistan is about to squander billions of taxpayers' money by choosing to pursue this frivolous claim.
This is totally getting stupid now. These tactics are being used by the government (PPP in particuler) to get their share of 110 % now. This Rubina Shah name just mismatched with the whole story. Shah who claims to represent the oldest tribes... What is the name of that oldest tribe... I am from the same area and i know how TCC is working. They are much better then these Chinese... Who have destroyed Saindak. Ms Rubina ... Are you a researcher or who conducted the research that this process is spreading cancer and how? Why you are simply being used by the Govt. or anti Baloch to work as a puppet. The whole drama is to get more share for Mr. President and Mr. Raisani (The ultimate thief). Stop being part of this dirty game and don't try to make us fool by using Shah and other Surnames.... Go and look with your own eyes in the area... what exactly is going on and how eager TCC is in inducting locals in the process. This is the main point that Federal Govt and upto some how SC does not want.
Who is this Robina shah? she is telling gold is extracted using cyanide from the Reko diq ore? I am amazed no work is going out in Reko diq and how come cyanide poisioning is taking place? These agents are deliberately robing Baluchistan Investments . All people need is employment and education through the investment of Reko Diq and Supreme Court unfortunately has not realized the situation except giving some people chances who have not even produced 1 mw of electricity through coal gasification.