PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has rejected the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minerals and Mines Bill, 2025, and demanded that its all details be disclosed to explain in what capacity the Federal Minerals Division has dictated the province for legislation about its natural resources.

Addressing a news conference at Bacha Khan Markaz here on Friday, ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain claimed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was making legislation on the instructions of the Federal Minerals Division, which was a deviation from provincial autonomy.

Accompanied by ANP senior vice president Syed Aqil Shah, general secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai and other central and provincial leaders, Mr Hussain said that the bill was controversial as the minerals and mines department of the province had already raised 73 objections to it, while the Mines and Minerals Association had made 47 objections but the government ignored them all.

“According to reports, the draft of this bill has been prepared by two American consultants. A comprehensive law of 2017 for mines and minerals already exists in our province, so there is no need for a new law,” he said.

Mian Iftikhar claims proposed law came on instructions from Centre

Mr Hussain said despite assurance, the provincial government did not remove objections to the bill.

He said it was ironic that despite the assurance, the draft prepared without any amendments was approved by the cabinet of the provincial government and presented in the assembly for approval.

“Even the government’s own members of the KP assembly are unaware of the bill presented in the assembly. This bill presented by the provincial government is against the 18th Constitutional Amendment. The 18th Constitutional Amendment and Pakistan are inseparable from each other,” he said.

The ANP leader said that the 18th Constitutional Amendment had been approved jointly by all political parties to end the disappointment in the provinces.

He said in the past, the denial of provincial autonomy led to the country’s division.

“No one has the right to deprive a province of its due constitutional rights,” he said.

The ANP leader said constitutionally, the first right and authority over natural resources belonged to the people living on the land.

He said there was great disappointment in the province due to terrorism as the local natural resources were also looted in terrorism and taken away unconstitutionally.

“The ANP will not remain silent on this process. Who has got the leases of mines and minerals in our province, especially Waziristan, since 2013? What has the province and the mines and minerals department received in the form of these leases? ANP demands that all the details be brought to light,” he said.

The ANP leader said the provincial government was giving its resources to the Special Investment Facilitation Council and to the federal government. He also said the SIFC was an executive body that had been established without legislation.

“After the 18th Amendment, it is illegal, unconstitutional and against the federal system for the federation or anybody subordinate to it to give instructions to the province on matters like minerals,” he said.

Referring to the proposed law, Mr Hussain said the bill mentioned strategic minerals, but nobody was there to explain it.

“The entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is strategic for the state; an attempt is being made to grab everything through the manipulation of words. This bill is creating a legal path for the Federal Minerals Division to interfere in the mineral resources of the province, which is not acceptable in any way,” he said.

He said the party knew how to fight and resist for KP rights.

“We will protect every inch of our land,” he said.

The ANP leader said the party would take all possible steps to stop that proposed legislation.

“”A parliament that cannot defend the rights and resources of the people is not needed by the people,” he said.

Mr Hussain said that his party would also take other political parties into confidence against this proposed law to raise a forceful voice against this ‘robbery’.

He said that ANP central president Aimal Wali Khan would soon call a meeting to devise an effective plan for forcing the provincial government to withdraw the bill.

He said that the guarantee of Rs25 million which would have to be deposited for small-scale lease, and the guarantee amount for large-scale leases fixed at Rs500 million, which was in no way within the reach of local or domestic companies.

“The ANP considers this process as an attempt by foreign companies to monopolise these resources. The already large companies in the country are either from the establishment itself or they have partnerships in these companies.”

The ANP leader said that the PTI was using the proposed bill for the release of its leader, Imran Khan, which was not acceptable.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2025