London Arif Chaudhry
London, UK — A distinguished gathering of Pakistani-origin lawyers, barristers, solicitors, intellectuals, senior journalists and political figures — including former Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar — was held today at the High Society of Lincoln’s Inn, organised by the British Pakistani Lawyers (BPL) Forum UK. The topic of the conference was the Indus Waters Treaty, which is considered the bedrock of water diplomacy in South Asia and which is facing severe uncertainty following India’s decision to suspend the treaty.
The conference was organised by the London Committee, headed by Barrister Rashid Aslam. The members included Chaudhry Ansar Mahmood Advocate, Imran Panawala, Barrister Mian Sohail Anjum, and Barrister Rizwan Sulehria.
The proceedings began with a welcome address by Barrister Rashid Aslam. Barrister Amjad Malik and Barrister Mian Sohail Anjum presented papers on the Indus Waters Treaty, while prominent journalist Sohail Warraich highlighted the historical background of the treaty and the mechanism for resolving disputes.
Former Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar highlighted Pakistan’s stance, peace efforts and historical aspects related to Sindh civilization.
The conference, which was filled with intellectual seriousness and professional dignity, had a lively discussion on the historical significance of the treaty, its role in regional stability and the possible legal, political and humanitarian consequences of its suspension.
The participants emphasized that the Indus Waters Treaty is not just a bilateral agreement but a framework of international obligations and a successful example of resolving disputes through diplomacy. According to them, unilaterally suspending the treaty would jeopardize the delicate balance of the region and affect the lives of millions of people who depend on the Indus River system for water, agriculture and survival.
The participants urged both signatory states to ensure respect for international agreements, and for the international community, including the United Nations, international legal institutions and human rights organizations, to address the issue so that water is considered a common heritage of humanity and not used as a tool of political pressure.
The joint declaration issued at the end of the conference stated:
“The Indus Waters Treaty has been a symbol of cooperation, vision and tolerance for more than six decades. Undermining it today would not only threaten the delicate balance of South Asia but also the international legal order. We urge all parties to uphold their commitments and pursue dialogue, diplomacy and legal mediation to safeguard peace, justice and human dignity.”
The participants described the meeting as a significant effort to raise global awareness on this important issue. It also announced plans to form a working group of legal experts and policy advisors to monitor progress on the issue and explore ways to engage constructively at the international level.
The conference was attended by distinguished figures from across the UK, including: Advocate Makhdoom Tariq, Sardar Mohib Rasool, Mushtaq Chaudhry, Zafar Gondal, Nadeem Khan, Shaifa Khan, Barrister Hamza Malik, Solicitor Ahmed Kamal, Barrister Muhammad Shafiq, Barrister Rao Manzoor-ul-Haq, Barrister Afzal Ahmed, Hafiz Abdul Ghani, Barrister Ghulam Khawaja, and Mubeen Rashid. Media representatives were also present to cover the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, the Chief Guest presented mementos to the members of the London Committee and a tea was arranged in the honour of the participants.
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