During a highly significant and explosive press conference in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi exposed what he described as a dangerous nexus between illegal gold mining and terrorism-related crime in the province.
He announced the immediate and permanent cancellation of all gold mining lease agreements across the province, declaring that no one would be allowed to plunder Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s resources.
The governor revealed that the province’s resources had been ruthlessly exploited for the past 13 years. He said that whenever international and local companies were invited to invest through legal channels, the mining mafia began protesting because its real objective was to deprive the province of development.
Presenting figures concerning the large-scale exploitation of the province’s mineral resources, Kundi stated that approximately 90 kilograms of gold were being stolen every month through illegal placer gold mining in the Kohat region alone.
He estimated the monthly value of the illegally extracted gold at approximately Rs 4.2 billion.
According to the governor, thousands of heavy machines, tractors and dump trucks were being used in the illegal operation.
He further argued that 80% of the proceeds from this illegal business were being smuggled to Afghanistan, where the money was ultimately being used to finance terrorism and Fitna al-Khawarij activities against Pakistan.
The governor claimed that so-called youth committees established during previous administrations were collecting millions of rupees in extortion from local residents and outsiders.
He claimed that these activities were linked to anti-state and terrorist networks.
Referring to operations conducted by police and law enforcement agencies against the alleged mining mafia, Kundi said that when the state moved to stop the exploitation, members of Fitna al-Khawarij launched attacks.
According to the governor, DSP Haider Zaman and nine other police personnel were martyred in these attacks.
He further stated that 18 Khawarij were killed in retaliatory operations.
The governor categorically declared that the loss of innocent lives and challenges to the authority of the state would no longer be tolerated.
Paying tribute to the fallen police personnel, he announced the establishment of a special task force named after martyred DSP Haider Zaman.
The task force, he said, would work to eliminate the illegal mining network completely.
Naming influential political figures and criminal elements accused of supporting the mining mafia, the governor claimed that several individuals associated with different political parties were directly involved in the illegal business.
He named Aftab Alam, Shehryar Afridi, Khurram Zeeshan, Sajid Iqbal and Ehsan Lachi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
He also named Amjad Afridi of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), along with Seth Gohar Saifullah, Naseem Afridi and Imad Azam of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).
In addition, the governor claimed that Naveed, the brother of a former chief minister, Azhar Bukhari, Nazir Afridi, the Badshah Khan Group and Hafiz Israfeel were also part of the network.
He declared that indiscriminate action would be taken against all those involved under a zero-tolerance policy.
Outlining the government’s action plan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor issued a stern warning that all gold mining activities and leases in the province had been terminated with immediate effect.
He directed all miners and contractors to remove their machinery from mining sites within one week.
Failure to comply, he warned, would result in strict and decisive action by the state.
The governor also announced that a formal judicial commission, headed by a retired judge, was being established to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the entire scandal, illegal mining operations and the Kohat tragedy.
He said corrupt magistrates and government officials involved in the illegal business would also be brought to justice.
The objective, he stated, was to permanently free Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s future from the influence of the mining mafia.
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