2 weeks Ago By Ahmad Nabi
Khyber - The Mines Owners’ Association (MOA), Khyber, on Friday rejected the proposed KP Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 and declared it a deliberate attempt by the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to seize the natural resources of the merged tribal districts. Led by the association’s head, Asghar Afridi, a large number of members carrying placards and banners inscribed with statements against the KP Minerals Bill took out a protest rally at Khyber Chowk, Bara Bazaar. The infuriated marchers raised full-throated slogans against the government, terming the proposed bill unconstitutional and calling it a seizure of their minerals and a betrayal by the provincial government of its own people.
While speaking at the rally and later addressing a news conference at the local press club, Asghar Afridi, General Secretary Sameen Jan Advocate, Vice President Malik Gulzar Afridi, Finance Secretary Hashmat Khan, and others termed the bill an attack on provincial autonomy and equivalent to the economic strangulation of the Pakhtun community. ‘Info desk to be set up at Bacha Khan Int’l Airport’ They said that minerals have always remained a provincial subject under the 18th Amendment, and the involvement of the federal government undermines the rights of the provinces. They accused the government of secretly drafting the bill without consulting tribal stakeholders, attempting to deprive the militancy-affected tribal regions of a vital means to support their families.
“Our forefathers protected these minerals for hundreds of years, and now this grasping policy of the federal and provincial governments is unacceptable,” they remarked. “We stand by all decisions of the provincial organization for the protection of the mining business and remain committed to fighting for our rights.” The protesters demanded that the government scrap the proposed unconstitutional bill, calling it anti-local trade and a cruel attempt by the rulers.
They warned that if their demands are not met, they will expand their protest across the province. AIOU launches Russian Language Course.
