SWABI: Awami National Party provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain and other leaders on Tuesday declared that the mines and minerals bill was a conspiracy hatched to encroach upon the provincial autonomy and seize the resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He was addressing a seminar on the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill, 2025, organised by Pakhtun Students Federation (PSF) at the University of Swabi here.

“We will not accept this black law under any circumstances. The provincial government of PTI should abandon the “half partridge, half quail” policy and take a clear stand because there is no room for maneuvering and misleading the masses,” Mr Iftikhar said.

He said: “ANP has a clear stance that only the Pakhtuns have right over all the resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including minerals.”

Mr Iftikhar said the 18th Constitutional Amendment protected the fundamental rights of the people of the four provinces, giving them true autonomy, and creating harmony between the federation and the provinces.

“The KP resources should not be grabbed by the federal government in any circumstances. And if it does, ANP would stage street protests till the bill was withdrawn,” he warned.

The seasoned politician said that the economically feeble federating units should not be deprived of their rights because the Balochistan and KP provinces had always played a frontline role in the country’s defence.

On the occasion, Hussain Shah, ANP provincial general secretary, said the federal government was attempting to get control of the KP’s minerals wealth.

He said ANP had already held a multiparty conference in Peshawar over the matter, and was now educating the masses regarding the proposed legislation.

ANP Swabi president Asifur Rehman, senior vice-president Tauseef Ijaz, general secretary Nawabzada and PSF leaders also addressed the seminar.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2025