Riaz Hussain
Mardan
Central leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) and former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Amir Haider Khan Hoti, has termed the Mines and Minerals Bill 2025 a serious attack on the Constitution of Pakistan—particularly the 18th Constitutional Amendment—and on provincial autonomy. Addressing the Mardan Bar Association, he said the bill represents a systematic effort to curtail the constitutional powers of the federating units.
Hoti emphasized that under the 18th Amendment, natural resources, including minerals, fall under the jurisdiction of the provinces, and any legislation or policymaking in this regard must involve provincial consent, as per constitutional requirements.
He accused the federal government of attempting to seize control of provincial resources through unelected and “unconstitutional” bodies such as the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). According to him, such entities undermine democracy and the federal structure of the state.
Warning the government, Hoti asserted that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will not accept any compromise over their resources. He reiterated that the ANP will never back down from defending the people’s rights to ownership, participation, and decision-making.
The ANP leader called on bar councils, civil society, political parties, and all democratic forces to raise their voices and unite in opposition to the bill. “This is not just a battle over resources,” he said, “but a struggle for the Constitution, democratic authority, and the people’s right to self-determination — and ANP will fight this battle on every forum