The Gover-nment of Pakistan has paid former British Prime Minister Tony Blair''s wife one billion rupees. Thus Barrister Cherie Blair and her team was hired at an exorbitant cost of Rs one billion to fight the case for Pakistan. Furthermore, it was nuclear physicist Samar Mubarakmand''s statement that determined the extremely high fine awarded to Pakistan. The international tribunal, based on Mubarakmand''s statement, said Reko Diq has assets worth $131bn and Pakistan can extract gold and other items worth $2.5bn in order to repay the amount.

Earlier, TCC management, the complainant whose contract was terminated, had claimed $11.43bn in damages. The litigation has continued for seven years. The former chief justice verdict in the Reko Diq case was the first in a series of events that led to the massive award.

Copyright Independent News Pakistan, 2019