Indian spin: Pakistan has not lost water case, says minister

Qureshi says Court passed a judgment in Pakistan’s favour but the Indian media wrongly presented the situation

Pakistan has not lost its water case in the International Court of Arbitration as the short order of the court ensures a minimum flow under the Indus Water Treaty, the Upper House was told on Tuesday.

“The judgment is not against Pakistan, rather it is in our favour,” State Minister for Water and Power Tasneem Ahmad Qureshi said allaying reservations expressed by Senator Muhammad Mohsin Khan Leghari and the Leader of Opposition in the Senate Ishaq Dar.

Qureshi said the Indian media wrongly presented the case and the real situation was completely the opposite. Pakistan’s reservations have been considered in the short order and a final judgment would be announced in December this year.

Senator Farhatullah Babar said the court has given its verdict to one out of two questions. According to the decision, a minimum flow that has been granted under the Indus Water Treaty will be ensured and that is a victory for Pakistan.

The issue was taken up in the Upper House through a calling attention notice moved by Leghari and Dar. Dar said the government always took water lightly, which is why it lost the case in international arbitration.

Aafia Siddiqui

On a point of order, it was pointed out that the government had failed to repatriate Dr Aafia Siddiqi, who is being kept in a US prison. Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed urged the government do something for her. Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that all efforts are being made to repatriate her. Her sister Fauzia Siddiqui was present in the visitor’s gallery when this was said and the House expressed full solidarity with her family.

Legislative business

The Senate unanimously passed on Tuesday “The Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2013”. The bill was moved by Minister for Capital Administration and Development Nazar Muhammad Gondal.
“The Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (PIMS), Islamabad Bill, 2013” was introduced in the House and the chair referred it to the committee of the House concerned and sought a report by Thursday.

Besides this, the house passed a motion to make a numeric amendment in the rules and procedures of the conduct of business of the Senate. According to the amendment, the number of members of a Senate standing committee will be increased from 11 to 12. The move was made to accommodate the incumbent ministers as chairmen of standing committees after their tenure ends March 15. The amendment was opposed by Pakistan Muslim League-N members and the Awami National Party that also walked out in protest when the bill was passed.