Peshawar: The Awami National Party (ANP) has categorically rejected the proposed "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Act 2025," calling it unconstitutional and an attack on provincial autonomy.
In a strongly-worded press conference held at Bacha Khan Markaz, Peshawar, ANP’s Provincial President Mian Iftikhar Hussain, flanked by other central and provincial leaders, raised serious objections to the bill and vowed to resist it at every platform.
Mian Iftikhar stated that the draft of the bill was allegedly prepared by two American consultants and that a comprehensive Mines and Minerals Act already exists since 2017, rendering the new legislation unnecessary. According to him, the provincial Mines and Minerals Department raised 73 objections to the bill, while the Mines and Minerals Association submitted 47, none of which were addressed before the draft was approved by the provincial cabinet and tabled in the assembly.
He accused the government of bypassing both transparency and democratic norms, saying even the ruling party’s own members were unaware of the bill’s contents. ANP believes the bill directly violates the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which ensures that provinces have the primary right over their natural resources.
"The 18th Amendment and the Federation of Pakistan are necessary for each other. It was passed with consensus to eliminate provincial grievances," said Iftikhar Hussain. "It was the denial of provincial autonomy that led to the disintegration of Pakistan in 1971."
He further warned that this legislation is an attempt to provide a constitutional cover to what he described as the unlawful plundering of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s resources, which has continued even during the years of terrorism. He questioned who received the mining leases, especially in regions like Waziristan since 2013, and demanded transparency in terms of provincial revenue and departmental benefits.
The ANP leader criticized the role of the federal Minerals Division in pushing provinces to legislate uniformly, questioning its authority to issue such instructions after the 18th Amendment. He said that through this bill, the provincial government is willingly handing over control of its resources to the federal government and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), an executive body established without any legislative framework.
The bill's reference to "strategic minerals" was also questioned, with Mian Iftikhar arguing that vague terms are being used to usurp provincial rights. "If the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is strategic for the state, does that give the federal government the right to seize everything?" he asked.
He further warned that new financial guarantees proposed in the bill—Rs. 25 million for small-scale and Rs. 500 million for large-scale mining leases—would push local and national businesses out of the industry, creating space for foreign dominance. He alleged that these foreign companies either belong to or are partnered with the establishment.
The ANP also accused PTI of using the bill as a bargaining chip, claiming that some PTI figures, including Imran Khan's sister, are linking its approval to his potential release from prison. “ANP has sacrificed for the rights and autonomy of the people. PTI is ready to sell out the province for one man's freedom,” Mian Iftikhar added.
ANP demanded the immediate withdrawal of the bill and warned against deepening public despair. They announced plans to resist the bill through parliamentary channels and, if needed, legal means. The party also vowed to take the issue to the public and build a united front with other political parties.
ANP’s Central President Aimal Wali Khan is expected to soon call a meeting to finalize a comprehensive strategy against the legislation. "Our resistance will continue until this bill is withdrawn," the leadership concluded.
