Jamiat Ulema-E-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) MAULANA Fazlur Rehman denounced on Wednesday the bill of mines and minerals proposed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government (KP), qualifying it as “unacceptable” and a violation of the provincial autonomy.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Fazl accused both the federal government and the “international powers” of trying to take control of Pakistan’s natural resources. He warned that if “sensible decisions” were not taken, his party would go to the streets in protest.
“This legislation undermines the amendment 18 and violates the rights of the provinces,” Fazl said. “We will not allow the center or any foreign power to claim our resources.”
He claimed that the federal government had devised alternative legal mechanisms to avoid constitutional safeguards, pressing the provinces to form new authorities to administer their mineral wealth.
“If any country wants to invest, the provincial government must address through the center and respect local conditions,” he added.
The proposed bill, presented by the ruler Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) in the KP Assembly, has caused criticism of the opposition parties and within the PTI itself. Critics argue that the law runs the risk of centralizing the control of KP’s resources and weakening the provincial authority.
The KP government has defended the bill, saying that it aims to regulate investment, stop illegal mining and attract foreign interest in the mineral sector of the province.
Fazl also commented on the safety situation in KP, urging the government to participate in the dialogue with Afghanistan and establish a clear policy for repatriation and registration of Afghan refugees.
His comments followed the reports that the founder of PTI, Imran Khan, currently in jail, had ordered his party not to approve the legislation without his consultation with Prime Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other political leaders.
