Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman claimed on Wednesday that the federal government was trying to unilaterally seize minerals, rejecting the Mines and Minerals Bill.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s provincial headquarters in Peshawar, Rehman said, "The federal government wants to seize our resources through the Mines and Minerals Bill, and this is an attack on the rights of the people of the province and the 18th Amendment."
The JUI-F chief said: "Any bill that attacks a province’s authority is rejected."
Rehman said: "Neither international forces nor the federal government will be allowed to own the province’s resources, and if anyone wants to invest, they should come."
"The way is to make an agreement with the province, but they will not tolerate attacks on their interests and the seizure of minerals by others," said Rehman.
He said: "The issue of Afghan refugees is a problem of two countries; it should be resolved together with Afghanistan, and instead of deporting Afghan refugees, a dignified procedure should be made for their return."
He announced that there will be a Gaza Million March at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on April 27 and an anti-Israel conference will be held in Peshawar on May 11.
