Non-appointment of Commissioner for Indus Waters: Ministry seeks time for filing reply

ISLAMABAD: The counsel for the Ministry of Water and Power sought time to file a reply regarding the non-appointment of the Commissioner for Indus Waters.

A single-bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir on Tuesday heard a petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel (JAP). The court issued notices to the federation, terming the matter a serious issue.

The counsel for the Ministry of Water and Power sought time to file a reply regarding the non-appointment of the Pakistan Commissioner for the Indus Water Treaty.

READ ALSO: Indus Waters Treaty: Hague-based CoA endorses Pakistan’s position

During the hearing, the Ministry of Water and Power’s lawyer informed that, as all the officials are busy due to the budget, he was unable to get instructions regarding the matter.

Justice Tahir directed the counsel to consult the government and inform the court on the next date, saying this is a serious issue. Advocate Azhar Siddique represented the JAP, argued that the post of the commissioner has been lying vacant since September 1, 2025. “Under Article 8 of the Indus Water Treaty, the commissioner’s appointment should be made permanently,” he added.

Azhar Siddique maintained that India’s planned diversion of approximately 2 million acre-feet of water annually from the Chenab basin constitutes a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty, customary international law, the UN Watercourses Convention, and internationally recognized principles protecting trans-boundary water resources.

He submitted that the project threatens Pakistan’s food security, agricultural productivity, and economic stability, and affects millions of citizens dependent upon the Chenab River system.

He asked the court to direct the federal government to immediately initiate proceedings before the International Court of Justice, engage the World Bank and the Permanent Indus Commission, issue a formal diplomatic protest to India, and pursue all available international legal remedies to prevent the implementation of the project.

Azhar informed the bench that the federal government failed to make a regular appointment of Commissioner Indus Waters, and asserted that the prolonged reliance on additional-charge arrangements weakens Pakistan’s institutional capacity to safeguard its treaty rights.

He emphasized that maintenance of a permanent and treaty-compliant office is essential for protecting Pakistan’s interests under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The bench accepting the request for more time adjourned the case until June 23.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026