PESHAWAR
Awami National Party (ANP) President Aimal Wali Khan has categorically rejected the proposed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Act 2025, branding it a state-sponsored effort to legitimize federal control over the province’s mineral wealth.
He announced a province-wide protest campaign aimed at resisting what he termed a “broad daylight robbery” of Pakhtun resources.
Speaking at a press conference following a special committee meeting of the ANP, Aimal Wali Khan accused the federal government of using the proposed legislation to formally hand over provincial resources to federal entities through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the Federal Minerals Wing.
“The bill is an attempt to give legal cover to an already unlawful occupation of our mineral resources. It is a direct attack on the autonomy of our province,” Khan said.
He warned that the party’s resistance is no longer limited to the Act alone, but now encompasses a broader struggle for the full implementation of the 18th Constitutional Amendment and the restoration of provincial rights.
The ANP has announced a comprehensive protest strategy, beginning with an awareness campaign across universities, colleges, and religious institutions in April and May.
The movement will escalate in phases—village-level protests in June, tehsil-level demonstrations in July, and district-level protests in August—culminating in a massive demonstration in Peshawar in September. If demands remain unmet, the ANP may march on Islamabad in October.
Khan stated, “Either give us our rights or give us freedom,” adding that the state has persistently targeted the ANP through election rigging, terror attacks, and political marginalization due to its firm stance on resource ownership.
He also called for unity among all Pakhtuns, irrespective of political affiliation. “This is not just a political issue—it is a matter of national survival,” he said.
The party has also announced plans to host all-parties conferences at the district level in the coming weeks, aiming to build broader consensus and solidarity against the proposed legislation.
