Pak likely to appoint Brit lawyer to represent it in water dispute with India

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan government is likely to appoint a British lawyer to argue its case concerning the river water distribution issues with India at international forums.

According to sources, UK-based lawyer Kiyan Homi Kaiobad’s name is on the top of the list of lawyers being considered to replace James Crawford, who was removed from the government’s legal team handling the issue.

Kaikobad is former legal adviser to Bahrain’s Ministry of State for Legal Affairs, and is currently working as a professor of law and research director at Brunel University, The Daily Times reports.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan has said that it would move to nternational Court of Arbitration if India maintains its ’stubborn’ attitude over the distribution of river as per the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960.

The Indus Waters Treaty provides appointment of a neutral expert by the World Bank as a last option to resolve water related issues between both the countries.

Pakistan has been blaming India for an unsporting attitude during bilateral talks, which were initiated to resolve the impending water dispute.

Pakistan has been opposing the construction of the Kishanganga hydropower project on Ganga River in Kashmir, which is called Neelum upon entering Pakistan. Pakistan has said that the diversion of the waters of the Neelum is not allowed under the treaty, and it will face a 27 per cent water deficit, when the project gets completed. (ANI)