Attack on Mohmand mines exposes political admin’s inability

PESHAWAR: The recent attack on nephrite and chromite mines by hundreds of men armed using sophisticated weapons in Anbar tehsil of Mohmand Agency exposed the political administration's inability to provide protection to legal lease holders of mines.

It also inflicted a blow to the government's commitment to attract investment in the neglected tribal region for the uplift of the tribal people. The inaction of the security forces at a time when a full-fledged operation against militant activities is underway across the country has also posed serious questions about the state of affairs.

According to eye-witnesses, hundreds of heavily armed men attacked some nephrite mines in Anbar on March 20 after crossing several checkpoints unhindered. “No one even bothered to check the massive movement of heavily armed men in broad daylight,” an eye-witness told The News.

The march towards the mines was made in the morning. The attackers failed to make entry into the mines due to the stiff resistance offered by the private security guards of the mine-owners and the tribal elders. It was fortunate that the hours-long exchange of fire didn't cause any casualty. A few minor injuries were caused to some persons.

The security forces showed presence in the afternoon to calm down the situation, the eye-witness said. He added that some of the assailants were arrested and the remaining fled after the arrival of the security forces.

The next day the supporters of the assailants staged protest in Ghallanai, the headquarters of Mohmand Agency. They also clashed with the political administration officials leaving the tehsildar seriously injured.

The political authorities, on the other hand, arrested dozens of the people for attacking the tehsildar. They also addressed a news conference alleging that precious mines in Anbar tehsil had been seized by some contractors and demanded immediate release of arrested people.

The political administration assured the legal lease-holders of the mines that they would be provided security and stern punishment would be awarded to those who have violated the law and attacked the mines.

However, according to sources, all the detained people were set free after two days in return for a fine of Rs1.3 million and four sheep as a sort of compensation for injuring the tehsildar. No effort, whatsoever, was made to console and make compromise with the lease-holders, whose mines had been attacked, the sources said.

One of the lease-holders told The News they got the leases after fulfillment of all the requirements and passing through the toughest criteria. He said they had made investment worth hundreds of millions of rupees besides putting their lives at risk.

The lease-holder said they created job opportunities for thousands of tribal youth besides taking initiatives for the socio-economic uplift of the area. He said he got the lease in 2012 when militant activities were in full swing in Mohmand Agency and no one could even think of making investment there.

"The mines were also a good source of revenue for the local tribal people, the political administration and the Fata Development Authority (FDA)," he argued. He said that they pay Rs 500,000 per truck to the tribal elders, who are the actual owners of the mountains where the mines are located, Rs 15,000 per truck to the whole tribe, Rs 30,000 per truck to the political administration and Rs 20,000 per truck to the FDA.

But some influential people in the government departments and in the political circles were trying to mount persistent pressure on the investors to mint money and acquire share in the mines.

The mine-owners want a fair inquiry into the matter and action against those involved in the attack or supporting them discreetly.  They also want protection to their lives and business in Mohmand Agency in accordance with the standard operating procedures for mining in the tribal areas.

Mohmand Agency's Political Agent Mehmud Aslam could not be reached for comments on his personal as well as official numbers despite several attempts for several days. Regarding the legality of the leases, a senior official of FDA told The News that all the leases in Mohmand Agency and other tribal areas were legal. “So tough is the criteria for the award of the lease that no one can even think of getting a lease in an illegal manner,” he asserted.

The tribal areas are rich in mineral resources besides having good potential of tourism, an observer noted. He felt these two sectors if promoted properly could overcome the sense of deprivation among the tribal people.

Marble, nephrite and chromite are the minerals found in Mohmand Agency in huge quantities. According to an official survey, deposits of seven billion tonnes are found in the tribal agencies of which 3.5 billion tonnes existed in Mohmand Agency alone.