Senate resolves to review Indus Water Treaty

Resolution passed for enhancing profit rate on saving schemes; bill seeking voting rights for women referred to committee

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday approved two resolutions seeking enhancement in the profit rate on saving schemes and a review of the Indus Water Treaty 1960. It asked the government to review the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 inserting new provisions enabling Pakistan to get more water for its rivers.

The resolution in this regard was moved by Senator Karim Ahmed Khawaja and passed by the House. Speaking on the resolution, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that Pakistan was facing a water shortage issue currently.

Unfortunately several projects for storing water like the construction of the Kalabagh and Akori dams had become controversial aggravating the issue. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), he alleged, remained in power for five years but the water issue was not included as part of the composite dialogue with India.

He said currently it was not possible to review the Indus Water Treaty as there were legal requirements. Similarly, he added both the countries would have to be on the same page and a consensus would have to be developed prior to reviewing the treaty.

He was of the view India had not prevented Pakistan from constructing any dam to overcome the water shortage. Thus there was a need to carry out introspection as Pakistan could construct dams on its own rivers as well.

Earlier speaking on the resolution, Senator Mushahidullah Khan said when the Indus Water Treaty was reached with India Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the minister for natural resources and later he was made foreign minister.

Bhutto would have played a role with regard to the treaty which would have to be taken into account he added. Senator Taj Haider said the mover’s standpoint was just and it should be taken up at an international forum as well.

Senator Farhatullah Babar said the water issue should be made part of the comprehensive dialogue with India while Sherry Rehman and Sassi Palejo said there was a need to review the treaty and have more water for the rivers.

A bill, guaranteeing right to vote for all women across Pakistan, as enshrined in the Constitution, was moved in the Senate, which was referred to the House standing committee for deliberations and report.

Moving the bill in the Senate, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said, “It is high time such a law is passed, given that in every election, be it local or provincial or national, we hear and see many women being excluded through force or pressure by alliances of local leaders.”

The Senator said that it was important to note that because of such practices, women were increasingly being denied the right to vote, especially in remote areas where the media or rights enforcers and political parties are unable to reach in time in order to change the game. “This bill,” she affirmed, “will make it mandatory for the Election Commission of Pakistan to order a re-poll in all such constituencies where reports and data conclude that women polled less than 10 percent of the vote.” 

Acting Chairman Senate Abdul Ghafoor Haideri referred her bill to the committee concerned.  Rehman lauded the services of women leaders and activists in attempting to change the conditions, discourse and rights agenda for women over the years, saying that she was fortunate to have worked with the greatest leader of them all, Benazir Bhutto, who had been an invaluable proponent of women’s rights, inclusion and empowerment at every level.

“The PPP did not accept such forced exclusions and marginalisation of women. When Mohtarma was alive, she always tried to ensure that all those who coerce women from exercising their fundamental rights will be penalised. Taking that vision forward, I am on the eve of Women’s Day, asking the parliament of Pakistan to disallow the alarming rise in such forced exclusions of women both as voters and as candidates in many constituencies and stories we don’t always hear about,” said Rehman.

“Women votes are increasingly showing a disturbing downward trend, despite an uptick in broader votes registered. Official data tells us there were 86.24m registered voters in 2013, including 48.61m men and 37.63m women. The latest figures show an overall increase in registered voters to 93.06m; within that group however, male voters grew up to 52.36m while female voters add up to 40.7m, revealing that voter registration of women has not kept pace with that of men,” said the Senator, citing disturbing statistics.

“This is bad news, especially when reports from Dir, Hangu and other areas consistently show that the local bosses are using verbal agreements to keep women from voting,” she added. The PPP Vice President, making her case, also referenced previous court rulings. 

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman Monday told the Senate that the ministry received 131 applications for registration of international Non Governmental Organizations (INGOs) till last year.