Pakistan Commission of Indus Water chief submits report on Baglihar site
By Aziz Malik - Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Commission of Indus Water [PCIW] Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah submitted his report to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz regarding the inspection of Baglihar Hydropower Project’s site.

Shah headed a five-member delegation to inspect the project site from July-23 to July-30.

He inspected the site as a government representative and not as the PCIW commissioner, a delegation member said by adding; Shah’s report highlighted Indian violations of the Indus Waters Treaty in the project’s design.

However, he refused to disclose the report’s major features.

The official said the report would also be submitted to Professor Raymond Lafitte, the neutral expert appointed by World Bank.

Counter Case

“After Pakistan submits its case to the neutral expert, India will submit a counter case so that the neutral expert can deliberate without bias,” he added.

Professor Lafitte will inspect Baglihar’s site in October, said the official. He said that the expert would decide, after inspection, whether the issue was a difference or a dispute, adding that if it was adjudged a dispute then the World Bank and other international bodies would form a Court of Arbitration.

The bank would appoint three members of the seven-member court with Pakistan two and India two.●