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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a stay order against the leasing of the Reko Diq reserves located in Balochistan until a verdict was reached on the case, television reports said.
The apex court has been hearing petitions challenging the award of a contract to the Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) – a Canadian consortium of Barrick Gold and Antofagasta Minerals – for exploring gold and copper in Reko Diq, a small desert town in Chagai district of Balochistan.
The court bench hearing the petitions comprised Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, Justice Mohammad Sair Ali, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday.
During Thursday’s hearing, Barrister Zafarullah stated that awarding public property to a foreign company was tantamount to plotting against the country.
The court subsequently restrained the Balochistan government from issuing licenses to any company until a final verdict was reached on the case.
