The Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs and Water and Power were briefed by the Foreign Secretary, Secretary Water & Power and Special Invitee/Expert on International Treaties Mr. Ahmer Bilal Sofi on a common agenda titled “Indian threat to Indus Water Treaty and to chart out a course of action for Pakistan” adopted by the both Committees together during the meeting held today in the Parliament House Islamabad. The meeting was Co-Chaired by Mr. Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Mr. Muhammad Arshad Khan Leghari, MNAs respective Chairman of the Committees. The Chairman and Committees also highly appreciated the briefings by the Senior Officers particularly Mr. Ahmer Bilal Sofi who throws the light on overall Water disputes among the states in different parts of the world and particularly on IWT with different legal dimensions and available options and recommendations for Pakistan.

2. During the meeting, the Members of the both Committees, asked many critical questions on the subject which were answered by the relevant Officers satisfactorily. On a question the Chairman also endorsed that the Members should keep themselves within the agenda item and not discuss national water issues as the present  discussion is about IWT so that a clear and strong message of unity is given to world particularly India at this point of time.

3. Before concluding the meeting a draft resolution was presented before the Committees and unanimously approved by the Members belonging to the different political parties to demonstrate the unity and one voice on the issue. The text of the resolution is as under:

               i.    It must in accordance with its responsibilities under the IWT, without further delay constitute the court of Arbitration to adjudicate on issues raised by Pakistan against India’s ongoing construction of KG and Ratle Hydro Electric plants.

              ii.    Till the World Bank constitutes the court of Arbitration, it must demand of India an immediate halt to ongoing construction of Ratle Dam till the issue is resolved.

4. The Members who attended the meeting are: Sahibzada Muhammad Nazeer Sultan, Mian Najeebuddin Awaisi, Mr. Muhammad Khan Daha, Ms. Tahmina Daultana, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Dr. Nafisa Shah, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi, Dr. Shireen Mehrunnisa Mazari, Dr. Muhammad Farooq Sattar, Mr. Ghous Bux Khan Maher, Ms. Naeema Kishwar Khan, Mr. Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Senior Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Water & Power also attended the meeting.