QUETTA: Former senator Nawab­zada Lashkari Raisani and Awami National Party (ANP) Balochistan president Asghar Khan Achakzai have agreed to launch a joint struggle for protecting natural resources of Balochistan by getting the Mines and Minerals Act repealed.

The decision was taken at a meeting between Mr Raisani and Mr Achakzai in which the Mines and Mineral Act and its impact were discussed.

Mr Raisani told the media after the meeting that it was the responsibility of genuine political parties and their leadership to use their influence to stop the implementation of the Mines and Minerals Act.

“A joint meeting would be held soon in this regard,” he said, adding that he had also held meetings with the central leadership of the National Party and office-bearers of the Mines and Minerals Association to evolve a unified stand and course of action on this serious issue.

He said the objective was to conduct a fresh review of the Act and introduce amendments that were strictly in the interest of the people of Balochistan, in line with the 18th Amendment and the Constitution, so that the dignity, rights, and future of coming generations of Balochistan could be protected.

The former Senator said that it was decided to contact other political parties as well, convene a joint meeting, finalise recommendations and present them in the assembly through members of political parties represented in the provincial assembly.

Mr Achakzai said the two sides would jointly work to protect the province’s resources and the future of its people as allout efforts were needed to stop whatever had been done, or was being planned, against Balochistan through the Mines and Minerals Act.

Mr Achakzai recalled that the Awami National Party had convened a multi-party conference at the Quetta Press Club in which ANP central president Aimal Wali Khan announced his party would table a resolution against the Act in the provincial assembly.

He said that JUI-F Balochistan leader Senator Maulana Abdul Wasay and National Party central secretary general Mir Kabir Muhammad Shahi had also agreed to submit a joint resolution in the provincial assembly against the act.

He said that Opposition Leader in the Balochistan Assembly, Mir Younis Aziz Zehri, and leaders of political parties inside and outside the assembly had demanded that the government conduct a fresh review of the Act.

The chief minister later announced on the floor of the assembly that the Act would be re-examined.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2025