Govt mulling Gwadar port handover to China, SC told

ISLAMABAD: During the hearing of a set of identical petitions against handing over Gwadar Port to the Singapore authorities, the federal government informed a two-member Supreme Court bench on Monday that Pakistan was considering handing over of Gwadar Port to China.

The bench comprising Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain then directed the Attorney General to appear before it on January 31. The court noted that the decision of the case will be issued on that day.

During the hearing, a petitioner Zakir Khan withdrew his petition after the federal government submitted its reply in the court stating that the Gwadar Port was being considered to be handed over to China. The petitioner submitted that if the government handed over the port to China, he had no objection over it.

Another petitioner Barrister Zafarullah Khan requested the court to grant him some time for preparation of his arguments, which the court allowed and adjourned further hearing till January 31, directing the Attorney General to ensure his presence in the court on January 31, as the decision of the case will be announced on that day.

It may be recalled here that last year the court had barred the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) from transferring immovable assets of the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) until a final decision of the case.

Counsel for GPA, had argued that PSA had been given land for running three terminals at the Gwadar Port, adding that no other land had been given or was being given.

Barrister Zafarullh Khan, a petitioner had highlighted that 600 square kms of land was being transferred to PSA. (PPI)