In 2004 UPA government had hired Pak’s ICJ lawyer Khawar Quereshi in Dabhol Power Project case

Harish Salve who is representing India at International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case and Khawar Qureshi, Pakistan’s lawyer in the same case have a long history between them. More than 15 years ago, there was a curious turn to events when India was forced to face arbitration at an international tribunal in the US initiated by Enron over the closure of Dabhol power project.

Millions of dollars were at stake for India. Salve, who had quit as solicitor general of India in November 2002, was retained as India’s counsel at the arbitration tribunal. In 2004, the UPA government came to power as also a new team of law officers headed by attorney general Milon Banerjee. To manage the highstake arbitration over Dabhol against Enron, the government chose Fox and Mandal law firm.

Union government sources said Salve was sounded out whether he would continue as India’s counsel in the arbitration proceedings. Salve confirmed and informed the new government that he would continue to charge a concessional fee of Rs one lakh per day’s hearing in the US-based tribunal.

However, all of a sudden there was a change of decision and Fox and Mandal was informed to hire Khawar Qureshi. India lost both ways, the case to Enron and a lot of money that was paid to Qureshi as legal fees.
An article from 2004 in ‘The Lawyer’, states that Serle Court chambers’ lawyer Khawar Qureshi had been appointed as counsel for the government of India. A host of UK firms had been invited to take India’s case. A spokesperson from the previous law firm had said: “Following the appointment of the new attorney general, the entire legal team, including the Indian advisers, was replaced.”