Tariq Fazal Chaudhry rejects claims K-P emergency is linked to mineral wealth

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has rejected allegations that the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) is connected to the province’s mineral resources.

ISLAMABAD: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has rejected allegations that the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) is connected to the province’s mineral resources.

Speaking on the television programme Capital Talk on Monday, Chaudhry said it was unfortunate that political parties were linking the constitutional measures to issues other than terrorism and security.

He maintained that the emergency was imposed under extraordinary circumstances to address the province’s security challenges, describing the move as an effort to restore peace rather than a political power struggle.

The emergency and governor’s rule were declared on October 11 after negotiations between the government and opposition failed. Parliament subsequently approved resolutions endorsing the presidential proclamations for a two-month period drawing strong objections from opposition lawmakers.

Opposition parties have criticised the measures alleging that they could enable the federal government to gain greater control over K-P’s natural resources. They have also vowed to resist what they describe as attempts to appropriate the province’s mineral wealth.

Chaudhry rejected this interpretation, arguing that disagreements between the former provincial administration and the federal government over counterterrorism had contributed to the situation. He also criticised the former provincial leadership over its stance on terrorism and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Discussing the security situation, the minister identified Dera Ismail Khan as one of 12 districts where operations would be conducted during the first phase. He alleged that the government’s authority was weak in parts of the district and claimed that some parliamentarians paid protection money to travel safely. These allegations were not independently verified in the report.

The minister also addressed estimates of Pakistan’s mineral wealth which has been valued at around $7 trillion in a statement cited by the report. He argued that previously untapped resources should be developed to help address the country’s economic difficulties and debt burden.

Chaudhry said the federal government had emphasised that residents of K-P and Balochistan would have the first right to the mineral wealth of their respective provinces adding that revenues would be directed towards provincial development.

K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had separately called for investment in the province’s mineral sector saying extraction and sales could create jobs support local businesses and improve economic conditions.

Pakistan’s mining sector has significant growth potential but turning mineral reserves into sustainable economic gains will require investment, improved security, modern technology, infrastructure and effective environmental safeguards.