Rukodak can't scream

 Even if a greedy person amasss wealth from all over the world, his lust is not fulfilled." (African proverb)

* In the

last 28 years, the cruelty inflicted on Balochistan, especially by its relatives, has been crushed. If he had been sensible, he would have screamed without enduring the pain. It is clear from his story that the greedy personalities in the ruling class do not shy away from bargaining for the soil of their homeland when they fall prey to lust.

This tragic incident shows that the lack of checks and balances in the government gives an opportunity to the corrupt elements to sell the motherland for a few bucks. This story especially informs the new generation that despite being rich in natural resources, the state Why Khudadad could not develop and prosper. In the seemingly rocky and barren land of Rokodak, there are many lessons for the people.

The modern East India Company

story began in 1969 when geologists from the GCP (Geological Survey of Pakistan) discovered gold and copper deposits in Rakodak. The area is located in the Chaghi district of Balochistan, where Afghanistan, The borders of Iran and Pakistan meet. The area is rich in rocks millions of years old. It is part of a geological plate stretching from Europe to Indonesia. But, near Raku Dick, is the Sandak mine, from which a Chinese company is extracting gold and copper.

Due to the indifference and incompetence of the ruling class, no action was taken for mining in Rukodak. However, if minerals were extracted from the region and sold in international markets, Pakistan would get valuable foreign exchange. However, they did not bother to find the hidden natural treasures in Rokodak. A major obstacle is the decline of science and technology in the Islamic world. The Pakistani government did not have the technology to know where the mineral deposits are located in Rokodak. Removing them from the cradle of rocks was a long way off. If this mineral treasure had been discovered in a foreign country, the government would have immediately started taking steps to take advantage of it.

God forbid, the interests of the ruling class ended and the government came to a standstill. Nine years later, some GCP experts returned to Rokodak in 1978. This time they were equipped with some modern equipment. The study also revealed that gold and copper particles were hidden in the soil of the area. They were said to be worth billions of dollars. The study was conducted by an Australian company, BHP (Birkin Hill Proprietary Company) Ltd.). Its experts also came to see the site.

Two and a half hundred years ago, the merchants of the British East India Company bought greedy traitors like Mir Jaffer and Mir Qasim in India and overthrew the Islamic regimes. Similarly, the Australian company now has greedy and greedy officers in the Balochistan government. The BHB also managed to "occupy" Rokodak and became the owner of the area in its own right. The Australian and Pakistani corrupt gangs were waiting for the right time to occupy it. Arrived in 1993. This month, Pakistan's ruling class was again the victim of a fierce civil war. The power struggle showed the nation a unique drama. Finally, on July 18, the game came to an end with the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, the country and the nation remained in turmoil and chaos. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Balochistan bureaucracy on July 29, through an agreement, put its national territory in the swing of the Australian company Rokodak. For the past several years, The NAB is investigating who were the traitors involved in illegally handing over the record to others. In November 2020, the "twenty-five" accused were finally identified and are now on trial in the NAB court. Chief Secretary, former Secretary, Department of Mining, former head of BDA (Balochistan Development Authority) and senior officials of relevant departments. Two of them are in custody. A former governor is also accused of taking bribe from a foreign company. But that did not happen.

The game was played.

According to sources, BHP had been trying for many years to get mining rights in Rakodak. The local officers of the company gradually bribed the officers of BDA and other provincial departments to ally themselves. However, sources said that the then chief secretary did not agree to give a record to BHP. Mining was in conflict with the Concession Rules (Mining Concession Rules 1970). One of the most important laws was that the provincial government could not enter into mining contracts with any company registered outside Pakistan. He was not authorized to enter into direct business contracts. Despite being administratively independent, he was subordinate to the government of Balochistan. ۔

Several legal experts working in the province reveal that Taj Muhammad Jamali was the Chief Minister of Balochistan from November 1990 to May 1993. He continued to refuse to award a mining contract in Rokodak to a foreign company. In November 1992, the Additional Chief Secretary sent him this summary. That the contract should be given to BHP. The Chief Minister rejected it. In July 1993, when the country was in the throes of a political crisis, the BDA chief reached the office of the Additional Chief Secretary at that time. The agreement file was brought so that the government could approve it.

The Additional Chief Secretary told him that the agreement would be approved only after getting approval from the provincial departments of planning, finance and law. He also said that the Balochistan government did not know what was in the agreement. Surprisingly, despite his ignorance and skepticism, he allowed the BDA chief to enter into an agreement on the condition that he sign agreements with the relevant departments. He was given six months to do so.

The BDA chief, however, did not contact the concerned departments and entered into a mining agreement with BHP, known as the "Chaghi Hills Exploration Joint Venture Agreement". A company, Chaghi Hills Exploration Company, was also formed. The agreement was signed between the two companies. The facts are clear. In concluding this agreement, the following provisions of the Balochistan Mining Incentives Act, 1970 were trampled underfoot:

* Shaq 6 and 15: - Which mining company is registered in Pakistan and local people have also invested in it.

In case of discovery of minerals in the area, the company will start mining only as long as the government is satisfied with it.

٭Shak 32, 70 (f), 86 and 95: The government has the right to review the activities in the area of ​​the company. The company is required to submit a document regarding the expected activities to the government. Holds

Article 32 (h), 51,55,56,66,70 (h): The government has the power to revoke the license of a company for violating the law and to impose a fine on it.

Question 51: The licensed company will report its activities to the government every month.

Question 53: The company will start work for the extraction of minerals only after the approval of the government.

Shaq 56,57,70 (g), 83: The government reserves the right to withdraw the mining area given to the company at any time.

Article 65: The government has the right to increase the rate of royalty on minerals.

Question 69: A company cannot acquire ownership rights in any area without participation.

How did Pakistan get stuck in the swamp?

The steps taken by the provincial bureaucracy exempted the Australian company from all the above laws. The blatant violation of the law resulted in the first brick of the agreement being created out of greed. This misconduct illegally gave a foreign company many benefits and privileges. For example, it covered an area of ​​one thousand square miles. The most important thing is that the Australian company was to get 75% of the profits from the agreement on the acquisition of minerals, while only "25%" would go to BDA. The royalty rate was only "2%". "It was kept.

In a way, it is as if the provincial bureaucracy has sold billions of dollars worth of minerals that belonged to the Pakistani nation to foreigners at exorbitant prices. However, this bargaining has made a few greedy people rich. No tenders were issued and the contract was awarded to a favored company. This is the worst example of dictatorship and arbitrariness.

The first brick was a sin, so the building could not be built. The BHP did not do a single thing in Rokodak. Sold its stake to another Australian company, Mancour. Mancur founded a new company, Tethyan Copper Company. Became partners.

Meanwhile, news spread in Balochistan that the provincial bureaucracy had violated the law by awarding contracts to foreign companies. Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Maulana Abdul Haq Baloch took the matter to the Balochistan High Court but rejected the petition. The case then reached the Supreme Court. Until 2013, the bureaucracy tried its best to allow foreign companies to operate independently. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court annulled the agreement.

The agreement between BHP and BDA included a provision that in the event of a dispute, it would be resolved by the World Bank's Tribunal for Investment Disputes (International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes). The foreign companies did not accept the decision of the Pakistani court, they wanted to take possession of Rokodak without the participation of others. They took the matter to the tribunal. The tribunal imposed a fine of ارب 5.97 billion on Pakistan.

It also proved to be a matter of victory for the strong over the weak over the right. Jeffrey Sachs, a professor of economics at Columbia University in the United States, has revealed in his article "Illegal Projects: How World Bank Arbitrators Mugged Pakistan" that powerful Western mining companies have succeeded in appointing judges of their choice to the tribunal. However, the case itself was based on malice.

The government of Pakistan managed to get a stay order against the decision of the tribunal in September 2020, but it had to pay ضمانت 1.5 billion as bail. Get half of the amount by confiscating Pakistan's assets abroad. These companies are going to foreign courts in this regard. The Pakistani government has indicated that it will defend new cases, but how? It is not clear.

Surprisingly, according to experts, foreign companies would have spent barely ڈالر 1 million exploring for minerals in Rukodak, but taking advantage of the agreement with the BDA, they not only managed to win the case but also a large amount of fines. This matter proved to be tantamount to digging one's own grave with one's own hands. And it is revealed that some greedy Pakistanis have plunged the country and the nation into great trouble for their own interests. Hopefully, our ruling class has learned a lesson from this serious crisis. Learning will avoid getting bogged down in the mire of corruption