ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday concluded hearing of Reko Diq presidential reference.
A five-member larger bench — headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial — heard the case and will give its verdict on the presidential reference next week.
The chief justice stated during the hearing that the president had sought advice from legal channels before reserving the decision.
“The court will be careful while giving an opinion on the matter of basic rights in the presidential reference,” said CJP Bandial.
He stated that Pakistan faces a $1 billion fine and added that the federal government complied with the Reko Diq agreement’s legal requirements and the constitution.
CJP Bandial expressed his happiness that the Reko Diq accord secured safeguarding of international standards.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan said that it is a positive factor that no party signed an illegal agreement in the Reko Diq project.
“All the lawyers agree that Reko Diq is a transparent and public contract,” he added.
“Three years consumed over talks on Reko Diq agreement,” deputy attorney general told the court.
It is important to note that President Arif Alvi filed a reference with the Supreme Court on the recommendation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in order to obtain approval for the new Reko Diq project deal under Article 186 of the Constitution.
One of the largest undeveloped copper-gold mines in the world is Reko Diq. The project was put on hold in 2011 but is now being restarted.
