News Desk |
The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting has said that the country had paid over $100 million in international litigation during the last three years of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.
“For pleading these cases, the country requires another $10 million,” Dawn quoted the advisor as saying in a post-cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
During the press conference, Awan said that over $100 million had been spent on different international lawsuits such as Reko Diq mining project in Balochistan, rental power project case of Turkish firm Karkey Karadeniz, Samjhota Express bombing case, Indian spy Kulbushan Jadhav proceedings and Nizam of Hyderabad funds legal dispute.
Millions of dollars costs were recovered in the Agility international case as well. The country also recovered $99 million in a case pertaining to encashment of guarantees from Turkish banks.
While accusing the PML-N-led government, she said the Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken cognizance of spending huge amounts on international legal proceedings and formed a committee headed by the law minister to review them so as to avoid them in future. She said the PML-N made faulty agreements and failed to fulfill international obligations resulting in striking down of several international contracts.
AGP Advises Govt to form Commission to Fix Responsibility
Meanwhile, the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Anwar Mansoor Khan advised the federal government to form a commission to fix responsibility for the billions of rupees in penalties on account of losing various international arbitration cases.
The AGP while briefing the federal cabinet said that the liabilities Pakistan face were mainly due to the verdicts by Pakistan’s judiciary, the media reported. He shared details about the status and causes of the international disputes the country has been embroiled in, their implications, the total liabilities imposed and recommendations for devising a policy response to them.
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Khan said that AGP office should be consulted when investment, treaties, and contracts are negotiated to avoid and eliminate disputes and risk factors in a timely manner.
$10 Million Spent on International Lawsuits Under PTI Govt
During the briefing, the Express Tribune reported, AGP Khan informed the cabinet that Pakistan has spent as much as $100 million on legal fees due to international litigation, adding that around $10 million have so far been spent under the current Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.
The paper stated that Pakistan’s top lawyer said that the country was already facing $1.066 billion in financial liabilities in three cases: it has to pay liabilities worth $900 million in the Karkey case, $145 million in nine IPP cases and $21 million in the Broadsheet case. He said another $11.57 billion in claims were still pending against Pakistan, adding that the AGP office was trying to upgrade capacity to save these costs.
In two cases pertaining to lifting of anti-dumping duties, he said, Pakistan won against South Africa. Also, he added, Pakistan won a case against the US in a matter related to export promotion scheme.
He said that only one consultant was currently employed against a sanctioned strength of 10 consultants and five associate lawyers, adding that the Foreign Office rely on the AGP office for legal advice because it does not have an expert in international law.
Pakistan Won 13 out of 16 Cases in Last Six Years: AGP Satisfied with Overall Performance
While giving details of the cases won by Pakistan, Khan told the cabinet that Pakistan’s overall performance before the international tribunals was satisfactory and the country has successful defended 13 out of 16 cases in the last six years.
A £77million claim against Pakistan in the Progas case was dismissed and $42 million were recovered in the Ali Alawi case, the newspaper reported, adding the claims in matters related to the Minhaj Khokhar and Orient cases were also dismissed.
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He said Pakistan was awarded a $532 million counterclaim in the Daewoo vs National Highway Authority case and Pakistan State Oil was awarded all costs in the FAL Oil case. Millions of dollars costs were recovered in the Agility international case as well. The country also recovered $99 million in a case pertaining to encashment of guarantees from Turkish banks.
Sharing details of some other cases, he said, the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Appellate Body declared European Union’s countervailing duties inconsistent with its subsidies and countervailing measures agreement with Pakistan In May and the EU appeal against the decision was turned down.
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In two cases pertaining to lifting of anti-dumping duties, he said, Pakistan won against South Africa. Also, he added, Pakistan won a case against the US in a matter related to export promotion scheme.