Peshawar, April 16, 2025: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday strongly criticized the recently proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill, calling it a direct attack on provincial autonomy and warning of street protests if the legislation is passed in its current form.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Maulana Fazl declared the bill “unacceptable” to his party, asserting that it violates the spirit of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which guarantees greater provincial control over natural resources.
“Not only the Centre, but international powers are attempting to seize our resources,” he claimed. “Any bill adopted in violation of provincial rights will be opposed by JUI-F at all levels.”
The JUI-F leader alleged that the federal government was bypassing constitutional processes and exerting indirect pressure on provinces to pass legislation that centralizes control over minerals. “They’re crafting laws that not only affect our judicial system but also rob provinces of their natural wealth,” he said.
Maulana Fazl demanded that any foreign investment in KP’s mineral sector must be made with the consent of the provincial government, facilitated through the Centre and under terms defined by the province itself. “We will not allow any global power or federal entity to claim ownership over our provincial resources,” he warned.
He also pointed to worsening law and order in KP, recommending that the federal government engage in dialogue with Afghanistan to address cross-border tensions and security issues. On the issue of Afghan refugees, Fazl urged the government to formulate a proper registration process, noting that a large number remain undocumented. “If 1.5 million refugees are unregistered, the solution is to help them register — not force them out,” he added.
The JUI-F chief’s remarks follow a directive issued by incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, who instructed his party not to approve the bill without prior consultation with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other political stakeholders.
The proposed bill—introduced by the ruling PTI in the KP Assembly—aims to regulate investment in the province’s mining sector. While the KP government claims the legislation is designed to curb illegal mining and attract foreign investment, critics argue it erodes provincial control and opens the door for excessive federal and foreign influence.
The controversy unfolds amid a national push by the federal government to promote mineral exploration as a key investment sector—an effort that has prompted backlash over fears of centralized control over provincial resources.
