PESHAWAR: Rejecting the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill 2025, the Awami National Party (ANP) on Monday announced a protest movement against the legislation, terming it an attempt by a particular institution to seize control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s natural resources.
Addressing a press conference at the Bacha Khan Markaz, ANP central president Senator Aimal Wali Khan described the proposed bill as an effort to reverse the provincial autonomy granted under the 18th Amendment.
“The ANP will defend provincial rights and control over its resources at any cost,” he declared. Senior ANP leaders including Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Amir Haider Hoti, central general secretary Dr Salim Khan, Senator Hidayatullah, provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain, provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yusufzai, Ihsanullah, and senior vice president Syed Aqil Shah were also present on the occasion.
In addition to criticizing the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Aimal Wali Khan also blamed the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) at the Centre for weakening provincial control over natural resources.
“We also reject the SIFC [Special Investment Facilitation Council], the Federal Minerals Wing, and the dominance of a particular institution over provincial natural resources,” he said, adding that his party would soon convene a multi-party conference on the issue.
Aimal Wali Khan announced that in the first phase, the party would launch an awareness campaign in April and May, focusing on the natural resources, including mines and minerals, produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Meetings will be held at bar councils, press clubs, trade chambers, schools, and colleges. Corner meetings will be organized at the village council level in June.
He warned that the party would hold public gatherings at the district level in August if the bill was not withdrawn. “We have decided to hold protest rallies in Peshawar and Islamabad in September and October if provinces are not granted their rightful powers under the 18th Amendment,” the ANP leader said, adding that his party would invite all political forces to unite for the full implementation of the amendment.
The ANP chief also accused the ruling PTI of playing a dubious role, stating that while some of its members opposed the controversial bill, the chief minister and his team supported it in order to bargain for the release of an individual. He added that PTI had never been sincere to the people or the land of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and had been brought to power to roll back the powers granted under the 18th Amendment.
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