Barrister Aqeel Malik rejects claims that KP emergency was imposed over mineral resources

Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was unwilling to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities. He expressed disappointment over allegations being levelled against the federal government by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F).

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Malik rejected claims that the decision to impose an emergency in KP was linked to the province’s mineral resources. He said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his party had alleged that the move was aimed at securing access to the province’s mineral wealth.

Malik described Fazlur Rehman as a politically astute leader. He said the JUI-F chief had previously expressed concerns over the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to Malik, Fazlur Rehman had also raised questions about the issuance of a mining licence to the United States.

The minister challenged the JUI-F chief to present evidence of any such agreement. He asked Fazlur Rehman to make public the alleged mining licence granted to the United States.

Malik categorically denied that Pakistan had issued a mineral exploration or mining licence to the United States or any other country under the arrangement being alleged. He termed the accusations false and fabricated and said the government rejected the claims.

Providing figures on mining licences issued in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Malik said 3,262 licences had been granted up to February 2024. He added that another 4,917 licences had been issued after February 2024 up to the time of his statement.

The minister maintained that these licences had been issued by the PTI-led provincial government, which had been in power in the province for around 13 years. He cited the figures to counter allegations that the federal government had imposed an emergency to obtain control over KP’s mineral resources.

Malik reiterated that the emergency decision was not driven by mineral interests. He maintained that the provincial government’s failure to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities was central to the federal government’s concerns.