PESHAWAR (Kashmir English): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday announced the cancellation of all gold mining lease agreements across the province, accusing an illegal mining mafia of exploiting provincial resources and linking proceeds from the business to terrorist activities.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, accompanied by the provincial adviser for mines and minerals, the governor said all gold mining activities and leases had been terminated with immediate effect.
He directed miners and contractors to remove their machinery from mining sites within seven days, warning of strict action in case of non-compliance.
Kundi claimed that illegal gold mining had resulted in massive losses to the provincial exchequer over the past 13 years. Citing figures from Kohat, he said around 90 kilograms of gold were allegedly extracted illegally every month through placer mining, with an estimated value of Rs4.2 billion.
He further claimed that thousands of pieces of heavy machinery, including tractors and dumpers, were being used in the illegal business, while around 80 per cent of the extracted gold was smuggled to Afghanistan and allegedly used to finance terrorist activities.
The governor also alleged that certain youth committees formed during the previous government collected millions of rupees from local and non-local individuals and had links with criminal and anti-state networks.
Referring to recent security operations against illegal mining networks, Kundi said 10 police personnel, including DSP Haider Zaman, were martyred in attacks by militants, while 18 militants were killed in retaliatory action.
Special task force
Paying tribute to the police personnel, he announced the formation of a special task force named after martyred DSP Haider Zaman to tackle illegal mining and associated criminal networks.
The governor also named several political figures and other individuals whom he accused of supporting or being involved in the illegal mining business. He said action would be taken against all those found involved, without discrimination.
Kundi said a 10-year mining lease involving gold worth approximately Rs4.2 billion per month had been granted for just Rs4.92 billion.
The KP governor also alleged that 12 political figures had provided political backing in connection with the Kohat incident.
Among those he named were former provincial minister Aftab Alam, Shehryar Afridi, Khurram Zeeshan, Sajid Iqbal and Naveed, the brother of a former chief minister, among others.
Kundi clarified that no first information reports (FIRs) had been registered against the individuals he named.
He announced that a judicial commission, under the chairmanship of a retired judge, would investigate illegal gold mining and the Kohat incident, saying action would be taken against corrupt magistrates and government officials involved in this business.
