PTI senior leader slams mines bill

PESHAWAR: Senior lawyer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Qazi Muhammad Anwar on Wednesday criticized the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill 2025, calling it an act of betrayal against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, he alleged that the bill is a federal government initiative designed to hand over national resources to the United States.He praised the Awami National Party (ANP) for convening an All Parties Conference on the issue and welcomed the dialogue around the bill.

“This is a bill provided by the federal government, and passing it would be treason against the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he stated.Calling on all stakeholders, Anwar demanded unity for provincial rights and announced plans for seminars to raise awareness against the bill, which he said aims to transfer KP’s resources to the US under the guise of legislation.

Referring to a recent statement by Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb during his US visit, Qazi Anwar said it confirms that the federal-led government lacked sincerity toward Pakistan.

He accused the federal government of being obsessed with targeting PTI founder Imran Khan and ignoring national interests.The senior lawyer claimed that the PTI founder is being subjected to mental and physical torture in jail.

“Meetings with him are conducted under strict surveillance, and we are surrounded by recording devices,” he said.Qazi Anwar added that Imran Khan had been offered a deal through Halima Bibi to pass the bill in KP in exchange for release, which he rejected, saying, “I will not betray the people of KP.”

The senior lawyer alleged that those attempting to meet the PTI founder are diverted at a checkpoint set up two kilometers from the jail, which he called a violation of human rights.

On Afghan refugees, he said: “They are our brothers. They came here with respect, and they should be sent back with dignity, not humiliation.”He criticized the forced evictions and urged the government to allow refugees to sell their properties at fair market prices before returning to Afghanistan.He mentioned a defamation case filed against fellow party lawyer Moazzam Butt but refused to comment further.