PESHAWAR, May 18: Businessmen Forum leader Ilyas Ahmad Bilour on Friday opposed the federal government’s plan for equitable distribution of gas in the country and demanded due share in gas supply for every province.

In a statement issued here, Mr Bilour, who is also a ruling Awami National Party senator, said the every province had a legitimate right to avail itself of due share of gas in line with Article 158 of the Constitution and a Peshawar High Court verdict.

He rejected natural resources minister Dr Asim Hussain’s statement about the proposed equitable distribution of gas to all provinces, saying the plan was against the spirit of the Constitution and damaged the privilege of provinces.

The Business Forum leader said the natural resources minister had always passed statements against the Constitution and that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won’t let anyone take decisions against the Constitution and play with rights of its people.

“ANP strongly believes in supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law, and will not allow anyone to spoil the sanctity and true spirit of the autonomy secured by provinces under the 18th Constitutional Amendments,” he said.

Mr Bilour said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produced around 400 million cubic feet natural gas but consumed around 200 million cubic feet only.

He said the Peshawar High Court had already ordered uninterrupted gas supply to his province in line with the Article 158 of the Constitution while deciding a petition jointly filed by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and local businessmen.

The Business Forum leader urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan members of the Committee on the LBTU Gas Processing Policy, 2012, not to approve the proposed equitable distribution of gas to provinces.