Fazl warns Centre against usurping provincial resources

PESHAWAR: Terming the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 as a blatant attack on provincial rights and a violation of the autonomy granted under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday warned the federal government to refrain from usurping KP’s resources or the party would mobilise public protests against such legislation.

At the outset of the presser, prayers were offered for party members who had been martyred in the recent wave of targeted killings across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated that the 18th Constitutional Amendment was passed after extensive deliberation in both the Senate and the National Assembly and it guaranteed provincial autonomy and rights. “In this context, introducing such a bill is a clear violation of the Constitution. The federal government has malicious intentions to seize the rights and resources of the provinces, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and we will strongly resist this,” he asserted.

He alleged that efforts were underway to create a federal authority to control provincial resources, which is completely unacceptable to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The proposed law, he warned, would enable international companies to secure mining contracts in the province through a single bid process.

The JUIF chief also voiced concern over the forced repatriation of Afghan refugees. He urged the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to engage in a meaningful dialogue to develop a dignified mechanism for addressing the issue. Maulana Fazlur Rehman called on the international community to take notice and put pressure on both governments to find a negotiated solution.

Fazl also lambasted the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments for failing to stop the targeted killings of religious scholars. He also declared plans for large-scale events in support of Palestinians under the banner of “Gaza Conferences”. A major rally will be held at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on April 27, followed by another in Peshawar on May 11.