PTI Decision To Take CPEC To Courts Illogical: Constitutional Experts

PESHAWAR, Nov 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2016 ) : Senior lawyers and politicians here Monday said the decision of Pakistan Tahrik e Insaf (PTI) provincial government to take the issue of China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC) to courts was illogical and irrational, saying unnecessary litigations might affect foreign investment in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.

Senior lawyer and constitutional expert, Alamzaib Khan Advocate while commenting on KP government move to take CPEC issue to courts told APP that the decision of PTI was unrealistic, adding unnecessary litigation and criticism might affect foreign investment in the province which suffered badly due to terrorism and militancy.

"I believe that foreign investment can not be attracted through unnecessary litigations rather such an action will have a negative impact on foreign investment besides creating great difficulties for financially starved KP," he added.

He alleged that PTI wanted to create obstruction in process of investment in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and deprive people of development. "As Kohistan, Abbottabad, Manshera, Haripur, Shangla, Batagram, DI Khan etc are not part of KP that will be directly benefited from CPEC," he said.

'Foreign investors want political stability and support of Government for making investment in a country and may divert their investment to other countries in case of political instability, worst law and order situation and nonsupport of Government," he said.

"What message PTI has given to China by taking CPEC to courts," he questioned. PML-N parliamentary leader in KP Assembly Sardar Aurangzaib Nalota said PTI decision to bring CPEC to courts was beyond his understanding and it might affect investment process in the province.

Contrary to the claims of PTI, he said, no member from the opposition parties accompanied the PTI leaders while submitting the petition in the PHC. Jumat e Islami and Qaumi Watan Party, being the allied partners in ruling coalition abstained from accompanying the PTI's petitioners in court.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan after his recent meeting with Chinese Ambassador had fully supported CPEC, he said and questioned that why the KP Chief Minister KP Pervez Khattak had suddenly taken a U turn after supporting the mega project at the summit on CPEC held on August 29.

The countries, which had made rapid progress and development, had encouraged direct foreign investment as their Governments, political leadership and economists knew that foreign investment might go to other countries in case of unnecessary criticism and litigation on foreign funded projects, poor law and order situation and political instability in the country.

The rejected politicians, he said, were again came out to mislead people on CPEC by raising unjustified controversies on western route and wanted to make it controversial like Kalabagh dam on behest of their foreign masters.

"The enemy of Pakistan did not want success of CPEC and unnecessary criticism on it would tantamount to strengthen hand of adversaries of the country," he said, adding people from Karachi to Peshawar and Gawardar to Chitral were on the same page regarding CPEC and would thwart all the negative attempts and designs against this game changer project.

He said a huge direct foreign investment of $46 billion came to Pakistan after a long time due to prudent economic policies of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and political cohesion was required for successful implementation of CPEC.

He said PTI would not be allowed to run away from KP Government as it has failed to address problems of masses. Muzamil Khan, President Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) said CPEC was a very important for Pakistan and criticism for political gains should be avoided in the country's larger interest.

He said making CPEC disputed like Kalabagh would be a great injustice with people of Pakistan. To remove concerns of some quarters, he said, CPEC should be implemented as per its original agreement and all provinces should be given its due share in it.