PESHAWAR: A joint declaration, signed by representatives of various political parties here on Thursday rejected the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 and vowed to take unified stand for protection of provincial rights.

A multiparty conference (MPC) organised by Awami National Party (ANP) at Bacha Khan Markaz in Peshawar, was attended by representatives of different parties except Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

Those who shared views include ANP Peshawar district president Arab Mohammad Tahir, PPP representative Razaullah Khan, PMLN’s Rashid Mahmood, JUI-F’s Maulana Miskin Shah, Jamaat-i-Islami’s Hafiz Hashmat, Qaumi Watan Party’s Saleem Khan, PML-Q’s Mohammad Bilal, Inamullah Khan of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Fazal Muqeem Khan.

The speakers said that the proposed bill was considered a direct attack on provincial autonomy, natural resources, and the authority of the provincial assembly.

The bill , they said, was seen as an attempt to grant the Centre control over the province’s mineral resources, violating the 18th Constitutional Amendment.

The MPC emphasised that the control over the province’s resources belongs to the people and their elected representatives, not bureaucratic institutions.

The bill is viewed as a conspiracy to control the province’s agriculture, minerals, tourism, environment, and information technology sectors, the participants said.

Parties warned of strong opposition and public protests if the government attempted to pass the legislation.

ANP’s Tahir Khan said that his party was at the forefront of opposing the bill.

Similarly, JUI-F representative also referred to his party’s stand against the proposed law and said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had termed the bill an attack on the provincial autonomy and announced plans for a million-man march against the move.

Some resolutions were also adopted on the occasion stating that the parties had decided to launch a public awareness campaign to educate people about the implications of the bill.

Protests are planned at the village council, tehsil and provincial level to demonstrate opposition to the bill, they said.

The parties also resolved to pursue legal avenues to resist the bill, if necessary.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2025