Fazl terms mines and minerals bill 'unacceptable'

As controversy continues to swirl around the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government's proposed mines and minerals bill, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday strongly opposed the legislation, calling it “unacceptable” and a violation of provincial rights.

Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Maulana Fazl claimed the bill goes against the spirit of the 18th Amendment and undermines KP’s autonomy. He warned that if the government failed to act wisely, his party would mobilize protests.

“This is not just about the Centre—international powers are also seizing our resources,” Fazl alleged, expressing concern that external actors were being given opportunities to exploit the province’s mineral wealth under the guise of investment.

He urged lawmakers to uphold provincial rights enshrined in the Constitution and to avoid passing any legislation that would infringe upon those rights. Fazl further accused the federal government of bypassing democratic processes by coercing provinces into enacting such laws and forming mining authorities to control local resources.

“If any country wishes to invest, it must first get approval from the provincial government—through the Centre, but on the province’s terms,” he asserted. “We will not allow either the federal government or global powers to take control of KP’s natural resources.”

The JUI-F chief also expressed concern over what he described as a broader strategy by the federal government to influence the judiciary and weaken constitutional institutions through such legislation.

On the law and order front, Fazl called for dialogue with Afghanistan to address rising security concerns in KP. He also urged the government to create a proper mechanism for the repatriation and registration of Afghan refugees, noting that many were forced out in 2017. “If there are 1.5 million unregistered Afghan refugees, we should help register them instead of turning them away,” he said.

Fazl’s remarks come amid rising criticism of the bill not only from opposition parties but also from within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, currently incarcerated, reportedly instructed his party members to delay the bill’s approval until he could review its contents with KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and consult other political stakeholders.

The proposed legislation, introduced by the PTI-led KP government, aims to regulate investment in the province’s mining and minerals sector. While the government argues that the bill is necessary to curb illegal mining and attract foreign investment, critics say it compromises provincial control and gives undue power to the federal authorities.

The bill was introduced as the federal government ramps up efforts to showcase Pakistan’s mineral wealth to international investors.