Mine owners reject law on mines, mineral

SWABI: Frontier Mines Owners Association leaders of opposition political parties on Sunday said that efforts were being made to loot mineral resources of the Pakhtuns but they would never allow this.

Speaking at a press conference here, the association president Sarzamin Khan, Chairman Gul Zamin Shah, senior vice-president Fazal Qayyum, general secretary Najab Khan, Salim Khan Advocate, former provincial general secretary of Awami National Party and information secretary of Pakistan People’s Party Safdar Ali Advocate said that they rejected the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Act 2025. Later, they staged a protest demonstration and marched from Swabi Press Club to Karnal Sher Khan Chowk while passing through Swabi-Mardan road and various markets.

Chanting slogans against both federal and provincial government, they called for doing away with the controversial legislation and termed it a conspiracy against the 18th Amendment.They were holding placards inscribed with slogans, stressing that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should have rights over its resources and benefits should go to the people of the province.

They said that they would never be allowed to use the past tactics for exploiting resources of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, asking the government to ensure provincial autonomy obtained under the 18th Amendment.

Salim Advocate said that they would not allow the exploitation of the Pakhtuns for the benefit of Punjab. Gul Zamin Shah said what was wrong with the Minerals Act 2017 which was being abolished by enacting a new law. They called for the reversal of the new laws and demanded that an amendment should be made into the Minerals Act 2017 if necessary.