Friday, April 08, 2011


SC directs Balochistan AG to update it on Reko Diq project

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Balochistan advocate general to get fresh instructions from the provincial chief minister and chief secretary regarding the Reko Diq project.

The court also said that the project should be fully reviewed from all aspects by the chief minister and chief secretary keeping in view its previous, current and future status.

A three-member apex court bench, comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani, has been hearing a number of petitions filed against the awarding of mining and exploration contract of Reko Diq mines to foreign companies.

During Thursday’s hearing, the CJP remarked that from the day one, all the agreements, contracts and relaxation of rules were signed by the BHP of Australia to obtain exploration licence for Reko Diq mines. He said the court would decide whether the joint venture agreement and the licences approved for prospecting and exploration were legal or not. The CJP remarked, “Prima facie there was no relaxation in the rules according to the documents.” He also questioned the need to make new rules for exploration and mining arise when old ones were in place.

The CJP said to the Tethyan Copper Company’s (TCC) counsel Khalid Anwar that the company had failed to submit the feasibility report of the project.

Resuming his arguments, the TCC’s counsel submitted that the BHP company sold its exploration licence for $100. Upon this, the CJP snubbed the counsel and said that according to you, investment of millions of dollars had been made in the project and “you say they sold the licence just for $100”. The counsel replied that the new company was to invest $3 million within six months and the said $100 was just a consideration in the agreement.

Meanwhile, the court adjourned further hearing until Friday (today) with directions to the TCC’s counsel to conclude his arguments as soon as he could.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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