GHALANAI: Local political leaders and social workers on Wednesday blocked the Peshawar-Bajaur Road to protest against passage of the Mineral Sector Governance (Amendment) Bill, 2019, by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, declaring all mines and minerals in the newly-merged areas as the property of the government.

Speaking to the protesters outside the Mohmand Press Club, PPP merged districts’ leader Jangraiz Khan, tribal elders Mian Lal Badshah Safi, Malik Sadbar Khan, Musa Khan, JI leader Naveed Ahmad, Firdaus Khan Safi, president Mohmand Welfare Organisation Mir Afzal Mohmand, Haji Behram Khan and others said that tribesmen would challenge the bill in courts.

They said the government should restore the sacked Khasadar personnel and reopen the Pak-Afghan trade route to promote trade activities between the two countries.

The protesters blocked the main road for an hour, alleging that the government had taken over the mines and minerals and other resources in the erstwhile tribal areas under the garb of development of the merged districts.

Also, ANP workers protested against the passage of the bill in Ekkaghund Bazaar.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2019