NAVEED BUTT & AAMIR SAEED
ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz informed the National Assembly on Tuesday that India cannot revoke the Indus Water Treaty unilaterally and if it does so “the revocation can be taken as an act of war.”
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by PTI members Dr. Shireen Mazari and others, he said that Pakistan can approach the United Nations and the International Court of Justice if India violates the Indus Water Treaty.
The discussion in the Lower House came against the backdrop of New Delhi’s decision to alter Indus Water Treaty signed between both the two countries for water sharing unilaterally.
“The international law states that India cannot unilaterally separate itself from the treaty,” he said, adding the 56-year-old pact brokered by the World Bank was not suspended even during 1965 and 1974 wars and the Kargil and Siachen conflicts.
If India revokes or violates the treaty, Pakistan can approach the UN Security Council or the International Court of Justice, he said.
There is no provision in the pact for its suspension or a unilateral exit, he said, adding that Pakistan is gaining support of international community on the issue.
He further informed the House that Pakistan is considering briefing P-5 countries and international community about the dangers of suspending the water distribution pact.
Aziz said the provocative statements and actions from Indian leadership on the Indus Water Treaty are violation of international laws and breach of water treaty.
The Advisor said Pakistan will not accept any pressure from India and will continue to expose brutal Indian atrocities being carried out in Occupied Kashmir by the Indian forces.
Later, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the India’s assertion at the UN General Assembly that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. The resolution said the House resents the parallels being drawn between Jammu and Kashmir, a recognized disputed territory, and Balochistan, an integral part of sovereign Pakistan.
The resolution said peace and progress depend on good neighborly relations and the only way forward is constructive dialogue and not the “threats being issued by the Indian Prime Minister to unilaterally terminate the Indus Waters Treaty”.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in a policy statement informed the House that Pakistan has become 104th member of multilateral convention of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development by signing the agreement on 14th of this month in Paris.
The Minister said it is a comprehensive multilateral instrument available for all forms of tax matters and to tackle tax evasion. He said it is a convention against tax havens.
Ishaq Dar said after operationalization of the convention next year there will be flow of information about tax evasion and tax havens.
The House also adopted a unanimous resolution that the government should take steps to abolish interest on house building advance being given to the federal government employees.
The members urged the government to make sure that the banking system and others should be interest free.
Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Works Sajid Mehdi informed the House while responding to a calling attention notice that the retiring federal government employees have been issued no-objection certificates and other relevant papers of their quarters within three days after completing formalities.
Speaking on a point of order, Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah urged the government to convene a joint session of the Parliament for discussion on Kashmir issue in the wake of bellicose statements issued by the Indian leadership.
He said India is raising new issues to pressurize Pakistan. He said Kashmir issue has acquired importance due to increased atrocities by the Indian forces in Occupied Kashmir. He said there is a need to hold a thorough debate in the Parliament on the issue.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf member Dr Shireen Mazari also called for an earlier joint sitting of the Parliament.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai said the joint sitting should not be limited to Kashmir issue alone but internal and external threats faced by the country should also be discussed.
Sher Akbar Khan of Jamat-e-Islami also called for early joint sitting to send a message of unity to India and international community on Kashmir issue making them realize their obligations to UNSC resolutions.
Five bills were also introduced in the National Assembly including “The Prevention of Mal-practices in Academia Bill, 2016,” “The Pakistan Minorities Rights Commission Bill, 2016,” “The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016,” “The Protection of Minorities Bill, 2016” and “The Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and Universities (Regulation of Fee) Bill, 2016.”
The chair referred these bills to the relevant standing committees for a further discussion.
