QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday evening passed a resolution demanding an in-camera briefing on any plans of the federal government to sign a deal on copper and gold mining at Reko Diq.

The resolution was passed without any opposition after the house was apprised that the federal government was going to sign an agreement or an MoU regarding copper and gold mining without taking the Balochistan government and assembly into confidence. The resolution was tabled by opposition member Mir Akhtar Hussain Langove of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M).

After seeking permission of Acting Speaker Sardar Babar Khan Musakhail, who was presiding over the session, to move the resolution, Mr Langove said there were reports that the federal government was taking “illegal steps” to deprive the people of Balochistan of their natural resources and that in near future an agreement or a memorandum of understanding would be inked in Islamabad.

Assembly adopts resolution demanding in-camera briefing on alleged deal in Islamabad

The lawmaker asserted that the people of Balochistan were the real owners of Reko Diq and other natural resources in the province but they had not been allowed to take part in the decision-making process, particularly regarding natural resources. He said the Balochistan government and elected representatives of the people of the province were in the dark about any such decision.

Referring to the 18th Amendment, the opposition lawmaker demanded the role of Balochistan in any such decision and suggested that an assembly committee be established for negotiation with the federal government in this regard.

Opposition leader Malik Sikander Khan, Mohammad Asghar Khan Achakzai, Asghar Ali Tareen, Malik Naseer Ahmed Shahwani, Ahmed Nawaz Baloch and Nasarullah Zerey also spoke.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2021