Pakistan to move int’l court against India on water issue

[LahoreEstate]

Friday, April 17, 2009

By Khalid Mustafa

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to inform India about its intention to move the International Court of Arbitration and the neutral expert against diversion of Neelum River water to Wullar barrage and faulty design of the Kishanganga hydropower project.

The decision was taken during a high-level but secretive meeting held here on Tuesday last with Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf in the chair. Former water and power secretary Ashfaq Mehmud, top officials of the water and power ministry, foreign office, GHQ, ISI, law division and the deputy attorney-general attended the meeting. Pakistan Indus Waters Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah briefed the participants over the controversial project. In his presentation, Shah told the meeting that talks between Pakistan and India have failed after exhausting all endeavours at the Permanent Commission of Indus Waters level.

“Being Pakistan’s commissioner, I served notice on the Indian commissioner in March after exhausting all endeavours mentioned in the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty at the PCIW level to resolve the issue,” a senior official, who was part of the meeting, divulged this to The News while quoting Syed Jamaat Ali Shah, having told the meeting.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=21578