Latest news with #MinesandMineralsBill
India Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Locals protest against Pak government in Gilgit-Baltistan over land, mineral bill
Pakistan's domestic crisis continues to escalate as widespread protests broke out in the Gilgit-Baltistan region over land and mineral grabs, as well as prolonged power of angry locals took to the streets in Shigar district of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) on Sunday to stage a protest against the Pakistan Army and denounced what they called the illegal occupation of their lands, mountains, and minerals, fiercely opposing the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill. Chanting slogans like "Kabze par kabza namanzoor" (we reject repeated occupations), protestors accused the Pakistani establishment of trying to seize their natural resources without RESOURCES, OUR RIGHTS' Organised by the K2 Action Committee, the protest saw participation from residents of Dassu, Baraldo, Hyderabad, Tisar, Basho, and nearby villages. The crowd converged at Hussaini Chowk in Shigar's district headquarters, carrying banners demanding the recognition and protection of indigenous ownership rights over natural rally centred around fears that the proposed legislation would pave the way for aggressive mining activities, threatening local livelihoods and exploiting the region's natural wealth.'NO POLICY WITHOUT PUBLIC CONSENT'Speakers at the demonstration warned that no mining or resource extraction policy would be accepted without broad public consultation. They pledged to resist any unilateral decisions made by Islamabad or the Pakistan Army."The mountains, rivers, and minerals are ours. We are the custodians of this land, and we will not allow exploitation without our consent," said one ATTACKS PAKISTANI LEADERSHIPadvertisementProminent Shia cleric and President of Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, Agha Syed Ali Rizvi, addressed the gathering with sharp criticism of the Pakistani government and military."All geological resources, forests, and mountains in Gilgit-Baltistan are the collective property of its people," Rizvi declared. Criticising Pakistan's actions."If Pakistan wants to pay off its debt, if it wants to become rich, if it needs minerals, then seek permission from every child of Shigar. We will offer charity to Pakistan if needed," he against the use of force, he said, "If you come forcibly to occupy our lands, we swear by God, we will dig your graves on these very mountains."WHY GILGIT-BALTISTAN MATTERS?Gilgit-Baltistan holds significant strategic value, as a major section of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through the region. India opposes the route, asserting it traverses territory illegally occupied by Pakistan. The corridor's alignment through PoGB and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) has led to increased Chinese investment and military views this as an encroachment and a strategic threat along the Line of Control and the India-China border. Gilgit-Baltistan is critical for CPEC as all routes linking Pakistan to China, including the Karakoram Highway (KKH), pass through this mountainous geographical aspects further elevate the region's importance as it shares a border with China's Xinjiang province, Afghanistan's Wakhan corridor and India's Jammu and local frustration continues to grow. Protesters are enraged by land-grabbing practices and frequent power outages, with some areas suffering blackouts lasting up to 20 hours. The unrest is already affecting trade between Pakistan and China, as resistance on the ground disrupts the smooth functioning of CPEC routes through the InTrending Reel
Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Imran slams govt over controversial Mines & Minerals Bill
ISLAMABAD: The incarcerated ex-premier Imran Khan on Thursday severely criticised the federal government over the controversial Mines and Minerals Bill, saying its progress would remain stalled until he is briefed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, allied parties and senior party leaders. In a message posted to X, Khan stated unequivocally that 'the bill is going nowhere' unless he receives a detailed briefing regarding what he described as an attempt to 'bulldoze' the legislation through the KP provincial assembly. Turning his attention to the controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment, Khan said his party's warnings had been 'entirely justified,' claiming that Pakistan's justice system is 'utterly crippled.' He alleged that not only is justice being denied, but it is being 'deliberately obstructed,' with legal cases involving him and his allies excluded from court listings. 'The Constitution and the rule of law are being trampled with impunity,' Khan declared, accusing authorities of treating judicial decisions 'with open contempt.' He warned that this 'institutionalised lawlessness' is deeply eroding investor confidence in the country. The PTI founding chairman further said that he had instructed the party's legal team and parliamentarians to hold an urgent presser to highlight the legal and constitutional implications of the amendment. He also directed PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja to dispatch a detailed letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, outlining alleged injustices faced by his family and legal counsel. He urged Chief Justice Afridi to fulfil his constitutional responsibility as the 'guardian of the rule of law,' adding, 'If he remains silent in the face of such brazen illegality, who will be held accountable when the entire legal framework collapses.' On the May 9, 2023, incident, which he described as a 'false flag operation,' Khan accused the authorities of using it to persecute PTI through 'politically motivated prosecutions.' He claimed that critical CCTV footage that could exonerate his supporters has been either hidden or destroyed by those calling the shots in the country. 'Since day one, I have demanded that the footage be made public to expose the truth and hold the actual perpetrators accountable,' he added. Khan also levelled accusations at the government for what he termed a 'systematic dismantling' of state institutions, adding the judiciary, the parliament, the police, and the agencies like the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have all been stripped of credibility and functionality. Expressing grave concern over the recent spike in terrorist attacks, the ex-prime minister said the PTI government had long warned of such threats and engaged diplomatically with the Afghan government. He blamed the 'illegitimate PM Sharif regime' that succeeded him for ignoring these warnings and failing to take timely action. He called for the KP government to be granted full authority to engage with Kabul, emphasising that the province continues to bear the brunt of terrorist violence. 'Every day, our brave police officers are martyred,' he said. 'Yet the media remains shockingly indifferent. This is not merely a provincial issue – it is a national emergency.' The ex-prime minister also criticised the government's approach to Afghan refugees, branding it a 'disaster.' He once again directed the KP provincial assembly to pass a resolution and debate what he called an 'unlawful and inhumane' deportation campaign. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P parties unite against mines bill
All major political parties in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, have unanimously rejected the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill. Terming the bill a direct attack on the 18th Constitutional Amendment, provincial autonomy, natural resources, and the authority of the provincial assembly, party leaders warned of strong opposition if the government attempts to pass the legislation. The consensus was reached during an All Parties Conference (APC) organized by the Awami National Party (ANP) at Bacha Khan Markaz in Peshawar. The meeting was chaired by ANP's provincial President, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, and attended by leaders and representatives of all major political parties in the province. Participants resolved that, if necessary, they would not only pursue legal avenues but also launch public protests to resist the bill. The proposed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 was discussed in detail during the APC . Key participants included Maulana Attaur Rehman (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam), Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha (Pakistan Peoples Party), Bushra Gohar (National Democratic Movement), Ali Asghar Khan, Arbab Sher Ali, and Shakeel Khan (PTI), Professor Ibrahim (Jamaat-e-Islami), Murtaza Javed Abbasi (PML-N), Tariq Ahmed Khan (Qaumi Watan Party), Muhammad Ali (Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party), Adil Mehmood (Mazdoor Kisan Party), Khurshid Khan (Pakhtunkhwa National Awami Party), and Barrister Inayatullah (Awami Workers Party). Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, legal community, mining experts, trade organizations, the Mines and Minerals Association, civil society, and ANP's central and provincial leadership also attended. At the end of the conference, a unanimous joint declaration was issued with the approval of all participants. Mian Iftikhar Hussain read out the joint declaration, stating that the APC completely rejects the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill 2025.
Express Tribune
12-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Minerals Bill to be passed 'after approval from Imran'
Provincial Food Minister Zahir Shah Toru on Saturday said the Mines and Mineral Bill will be passed after it is approved by Imran Khan. He said terrorism was on the rise in the province but the central government had left the province alone in this war and the province was fighting terrorism and other problems with its own resources. Speaking at the 'Meet the Press' programme at the Mardan Press Club, he said that the province was currently facing the worst terrorism and that the police and forces were fighting the terrorists with their lives but a lack of resources was a major obstacle in their way. He added that they were not getting the facilities that should be provided by the federation. He said that the Mines and Minerals Bill will be passed with the approval of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, adding that there was no provision regarding minerals that the federation could use the powers of the province. He argued that the PTI was the largest party of the country. Toru further said that there were definitely differences of opinion in the party but that there was no grouping of any kind, adding that the centre was not giving the province resources and rights and the funds of Rs110 billion allocated for the merged districts had not yet been provided. He added that if this continued, the situation could become more serious. Toru said that after the February 8 general elections, two important responsibilities, improving governance and protecting democratic freedoms, had come on the shoulders of the PTI and that, despite the worst conditions, the PTI had played an exemplary role on both fronts. He added that until the supremacy of the Constitution and law was established in the country, development was not possible. He also said that the PTI was fighting for the restoration of constitutional and legal rule under the leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. He termed the Chief Minister's recent visit to Mardan as successful. The CM had announced development projects worth billions during his visit to Mardan, including more than Rs6 billion for the construction of protective embankments around Kalpani, a cultural hall and a science museum, and also released funds for projects abandoned by previous governments.
Express Tribune
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Imran's nod a must to pass K-P mines bill
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has unanimously decided that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill will only be passed after thorough consultation and with the formal approval and confidence of its founding chairman, Imran Khan. The decision was made in the party's political committee meeting held to discuss the Mines and Minerals Bill presented in the provincial assembly. During the meeting, CM K-P Ali Amin Gandapur gave a comprehensive and detailed briefing on all key aspects of the bill. PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, in a statement, said that the political committee reviewed all dimensions of the bill threadbare and unanimously agreed that the bill did not contain any clause transferring provincial autonomy, rights or mineral resources to the federation, SIFC, or any other federal institution. He said that during the meeting, it was agreed that positive suggestions from all stakeholders would be welcomed and consultation with other parliamentary parties would continue to evolve a wide-range consensus before the final approval of the bill. The PTI leader said that the bill has already been presented in the K-P Assembly and was under discussion. However, it would only be approved by the assembly after obtaining Imran Khan's formal approval and fully aligning it with his agenda, manifesto, narrative, and public aspirations. Waqas made it clear that there has been no haste in the approval of this bill, nor will there be any in the future. Meanwhile, he disclosed that Imran strictly prohibited the individuals who met him from discussing meeting details or instructions with the media. He said that as per Imran Khan's instructions, those who met with him must submit written details of his instructions to the central secretary information, as only the central secretary information was authorised to issue these written instructions and statements. Waqas stated that any statements from other sources would not be considered official or credible from now onward. Moreover, he asserted that PTI founder strictly refrained the party officials from making statements against one another. He said that violators would face show-cause notices, and those holding party positions would be stripped of their responsibilities. Waqas said that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has been briefed about the authority and powers of the Punjab's chief organiser, adding that a six-member advisory committee would be formed under the chief organiser. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill, 2025, has stirred up a firestorm of criticism, with PTI founder Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan calling for putting the proposed legislation on hold. The criticism, which came mostly from the ruling PTI's leaders and social media activists, was so harsh that Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur had to put out a statement on Tuesday night, dismissing "rumours and misconceptions" regarding the proposed amendments. The bill, which was tabled in the provincial assembly on April 4, was ripped apart by both ruling and opposition lawmakers.
