Political parties in Swabi oppose mines and minerals bill

SWABI: An All Parties Conference (APC) here on Wednesday backed the Awami National Party’s call for the withdrawal of the controversial Mines and Minerals Bill.

The APC, convened by the ANP, was attended by representatives from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF), Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and several other political and social organisations.

Also present were members of the business community, leaders of various labour and trade unions, the Mines and Minerals Union, as well as local government officials including Tehsil Razaar Chairman Ghulam Haqqani and Tehsil Chota Lahor Chairman Muhammad Ali. Representatives from Malgari Wakilan, analysts and intellectuals also attended the gathering.

Speaking on the occasion, the leaders opposed what they described as a centralisation attempt to control the province’s natural resources, calling the bill an attack on provincial autonomy and the rights of the people.

In his welcome address, ANP district president Asifur Rehman urged unity among Pakhtuns, stating that the ANP’s struggle was aimed at protecting the collective interests of the province’s residents.

He appealed to all political forces and civil society members to stand together in defense of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s resources and reject any legislation that undermines local control.Salim Khan advocate, former provincial general secretary of ANP, said that Pakhtuns face serious difficulties in achieving their dream of progress and prosperity.

“The natural resources with which they have attached great expectations of economic prosperity are now under grave threat,” he added.Masood Jabar, former deputy general secretary of QWP, called for abolishing the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) which he said was creating division among the people of the country.Arshad Khan, central deputy chairman of PkMAP said that there was a need for forging unity to achieve the objectives.