Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Water and Power advised the federal government to ask the World Bank on constituting the Court of Arbitration for mediation under the Indus Waters Treaty without further delay to adjudicate on India’s ongoing construction of water projects.

A meeting of both committees was jointly held on Friday in Parliament House with the chairmen of both committees of Awais Khan Leghari and Arshad Khan Leghari jointly presided over the meeting. The meeting was briefed on the agenda “Indian threat on Indus Waters Treaty and to chart out a course of action for Pakistan”. An expert on International Treaties Ahmer Bilal Sofi has said during the briefing, that according the treaty, no country could unilaterally revoke IWT.

He said Pakistan could take up water issues with India on different international forums. He also proposed that Pakistan also should sign and ratify UN conventions on water. Water and Power Secretary Younus Dagha briefed the committee that Indian Prime Minister Modi’s threat of revoking the agreement was serious. He said that Pakistan had taken up the issue according the treaty forcefully.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said recently in the wake of resistance by Kashmiris in Indian held Kashmir, India wanted to divert the international community’s attention from it. He said that the Indian PM’s statement for revoking IWT was in this perspective. He said India was violating the treaty and using delaying tactics while Pakistan wanted a quick resolution of water issues with India. He said that Pakistan had concerns that India was making plans to construct more than 40 water projects. He said that resolution of water issues with India out of IWT were not in favour of Pakistan and it would only serve Indian interests.

After a detailed discussion, it was unanimously decided to demand the government of Pakistan to ask the World Bank that it must, in accordance with its responsibilities under the IWT, without further delay constitute the court of Arbitration to adjudicate on issues raised by Pakistan against India’s ongoing construction of KG and Rattle Hydro Electric plants. Till the World Bank constitutes the court of Arbitration, it must demand of India an immediate halt to ongoing construction of Rattle Dam till the issue was resolved.

During the meeting, the members of the Committees, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that water was serious issue and in future would become more complex. Ghulam Mustafa Shah, without taking names, blamed a bureaucrat who according to him was the culprit in not pleading Pakistan’s case in a proper manner with India.