SC reserves verdict on Reko Diq presidential reference

SC has reserved verdict on Reko Diq presidential reference, which is likely to be announced next week.

On Tuesday, A five-member larger bench — headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial — completed the hearing of a reference filed in the Reko Diq case by President Dr Arif Alvi.

The apex court has held 17 hearings on the Reko Diq presidential reference.

CJP Bandial, during the hearing, said that the president has sought the opinion from legal channels.

“The court will be careful while giving an opinion on the matter of basic rights in the presidential reference,” said CJP Bandial.

CJP said that Pakistan is facing a fine of a billion dollars, adding that the federal government followed the constitution and the law concerning the Reko Diq agreement.

CJP Bandial said that he is happy Reko Diq agreement ensured international standard protection.

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.

Meanwhile, the deputy attorney general said that the negotiations on the agreement took place for three years.

President Alvi filed the reference on October 18, on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to seek the top court’s opinion on the Reko Diq settlement agreement under article 186 of the Constitution of Pakistan.