SC issues interim order in Reko Diq case

Pakistan

SC issues interim order in Reko Diq case

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SC asked the Balochistan government to submit plea in ICA to defer appointment of mediator.

07 February,2012 05:37 pm

Three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the Reko Diq case.The petitioner, Raza Kazim, informed the court that one party has taken the case to International Court of Arbitration (ICA) and “we want apex court to resolve this matter”.Chief Justice, in his remarks, said whether it would be acceptable for all parties if the SC issues interim order against taking the matter to the ICA.On this, counsel for Tethyan Company, Khalid Anwar said that TCCP would resist such order as Pakistan was bound to abide by international laws.Anwar said that international court had fined a country when its one court issued stay order against the ICA.Why the other parties of the case want to push Pakistan into this litigation, Anwar asked. Who does not know who is funding the petitioners of the case against issuance of mining license to Tethyan Company, he asked.The Supreme Court, while issuing the interim order, directed the federal and the Balochistan governments to submit request to International Court of Arbitration for deferring appointment of the mediator.It is said in the order that the Balochistan government will submit this application in International Centre for Investment Disputes and it would be requested that mediator’s appointment may remain deferred till such time the SC could decide the case.The hearing of the case has been adjourned for two weeks.