China Buying Land in Pakistan Under CPEC Project ; Senior Lawyer Moved to Pakistan SC
A senior Pakistani lawyer on Monday approached his country’s top court against the selling of land on proprietary rights to the Chinese citizens
Islamabad, May 8: A senior Pakistani lawyer on Monday approached his country’s top court against the selling of land on proprietary rights to the Chinese citizens in connection with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). According to a report of a Pakistani daily, The Nation, the lawyer wanted the court to issue directives to the government regarding this.
Watan Party’s head Barrister Zafarullah Khan filed the petition before the Supreme Court. In the petition it was said that certain relaxations had been given to the Chinese citizens in the name of CPEC. In the petition it was also mentioned that the Chinese were acquiring land on lease which was against the sovereignty of the state.
Barrister Khan also highlighted the point that Pakistani businessmen were facing huge problems in getting Chinese visa for visiting the country for business purpose, whereas Chinese people had no problem in getting Pakistani visas. Pakistani business had objected to the strict visa policy for them as compared to the Chinese.
Khan also questioned the privileges enjoyed by the Chinese. According to the Watan party’s leader, recreational parks and residential colonies were being established for the Chinese in Pakistan. He also compared CPEC project to the East India Company that led to British occupation in the sub-continent.
According to the report, he also questioned the agreement between both Pakistan and China about the project, stating that it had many flaws. Khan said it was a one-sided contract. According to Khan, provisions of such relaxation to the Chinese under the CPEC had compromised Pakistan’s sovereignty.
The lawyer wanted the court to interfere in the matter and issue directives for the Pakistani government to review the terms and conditions of the CPEC accord so that government the Chinese could be stopped from making direct investment in Pakistan.
Last month, five Chinese engineers were deported after they were involved in a fight with Pakistan police officials. These engineers were working on CPEC project. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a collection of infrastructure projects which started in 2013 and still is under construction throughout Pakistan.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 08, 2018 04:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).