ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday said that an amendment to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Bill would not affect the provincial autonomy.
While exclusively talking to Pakhtun Digital outside the national assembly in Islamabad here on Tuesday, the Defence Minister said the provincial government of KP was responsible for the unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The KP government is also causing unrest in Islamabad although they are failed to control terrorism in its province. They (PTI) are enemies of peace and unity and spread hatred,” Mr Asif said.
Replying to a question, Mr Asif said the Mines and Minerals Bill would not end provincial autonomy. No encroachment is being made against provincial autonomy.
He added that the consent of the provincial government would be included in passing the Minerals and Mines Bill. “In our country, various things are used for political purposes. Minerals are the first right of the province in which they are located. I do not know if any political party is opposing this bill. Political parties may have a different stand on this bill, but no one is opposing it. You will see on the day of voting,” The defence minister claimed.
Read also: All you need to know about proposed KP Mines and Minerals Act 2025
He said that the national exchequer was suffering losses of thousands of billions of rupees due to the ongoing corruption and irregularities in the Karachi Port Trust.
Khawaja Asif further said that this series of corruption had been going on for decades, and the administration there was not allowing any such steps to be taken which would reduce their income.
The Federal Defence Minister further said that the investigation committee established regarding the ongoing corruption and irregularities in the Karachi Port Trust has given its recommendations at the “highest level”. By implementing these recommendations, all avenues of corruption and irregularities in the said institution will be closed.
