Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi asserted that the people of the province had the first right to its resources.

“No one should think that foreigners will come and loot this province. Till I am here, the people of the province will have the first right to its resources,” he said while addressing a ceremony in Peshawar.

Kundi added that a third party from outside KP, whether a foreigner or from Pakistan, may enter into a joint venture with the people of the province if willing.

The governor, who has assumed the administrative control of KP following the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in the province, assured that his priority was the protection of the people of KP, then of the province itself and then Pakistan.

His assertions follow allegations by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman that the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in KP was linked to the government’s motive to take control of its resources.

He had also questioned the government’s position on mineral resources during a National Assembly session earlier this week, when he had criticised the Centre over emergency and governor’s rule in KP.

Meanwhile, claims have been circulating on social media that KP’s minerals would be given or sold to the US. This followed a statement made by Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker during an interview with The Centrum Media on Sept 30, expressing US interest in Pakistan’s mineral resources.

Kundi, without making any specific mention, said in his address that several reports may be circulating in the media and on social media, but his priority remained the protection of the people of KP.

He said this after outlining the diversity of KP’s resources: “Compared to other provinces, KP has the most natural resources and, as they say: Jahan wasail hotay hen wahan par masail bhi hotay hen (wherever there are resources, there will always be issues). KP is the largest oil and second-largest gas producer in Pakistan, and [..] we produce electricity. We have tourism, mineral resources, and tobacco.”

Kundi also spoke of the Rs160 billion pledged by the federal government for development projects in KP. He said 70 per cent of the funds will be allocated to the 12 districts under the Area Representative and Development Council (ARDC) and 30pc to other districts.

Kundi assured, “My brothers and sisters in the merged districts will not be deprived of their rightful share.”

On alleged corruption charges against non-functional KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the governor said if the charges were proven, due legal process would be adopted.

On Friday, adviser to the KP governor on information and public relations Samar Haroon Bilour said that available evidence regarding financial corruption by Afridi was being compiled.

Afridi remains in preventative custody and has not been seen since the imposition of governor’s rule in the province.

The Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on October 11, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. Less than a week after emergency and governor’s rule were imposed in the province, a joint sitting of parliament approved the federal government’s move amid a strong protest from the opposition.

The events of Oct 11 followed weeks of political tensions between the Centre and the PTI — as well as negotiations to bridge their differences — after the latter announced a long march to Islamabad to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan.

Federal ministers alleged that the PTI-led government in KP had a “nexus” with terrorist groups and asserted that the province’s security situation necessitated the imposition of emergency there.