Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) has stated that government of Balochistan (GOB) has authority of issuance of gold and copper mining licenses instead of SC, adding that the exploration license of Taython Copper Company (TCC) for gold and copper exploration in Balochistan has expired.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani heard the case filed against the granting of mining license to foreign companies in violation of the rules.
Chief Justice in his remarks said because the exploration license of TCC has expired by February 19, 2011; therefore the objections on the issue of mining licenses are premature because mining license had not been issued to any company yet.
Chief Justice addressing the petitioner Tariq Asad said Moulana Abdul Haq Baloch had challenged the rules regarding the mining. If you want to challenge the rules then you have to challenge them in High Court.
During the course of hearing Tariq Asad Advocate contended in front of court that Balochistan cabinet had decided in its 24 Dec 2009 meeting that it will not grant further license to Tethyan copper company. He said that Supreme Court has played its role in this case
In response to this argument Justice Sair Ali remarked that any decision regarding mining, whether in the interests of the country or against, will have to be taken by Balochistan government and court could not perform the job of the provincial government.
Justice Sair Ali in his remarks said company will have the right to contact any forum after the decision of the Balochistan government and court is only concerned with the legal petitions filed before SC in this regard.
Court called the Advocate General Balochistan Amanullah Kanrani and Balochistan government counsel Ahmer Bilal Sufi to know the view point of Balochistan government about this case. They replied that provincial government is awaiting the decision of the Apex court in Reko Diq mining case.
Court maintained that instead of dispose off this case the court will keep it pending so that anyone having objection against the government decision can contact the court later on.
Court directed the Advocate General Balochistan to get all the relevant directions from the provincial government later court adjourned the case till today (Wednesday). SANA