News Desk:
Quetta — Veteran politician and former senator Nawabzada Haji Lashkari Raisani has criticized the “criminal silence” of opposition parties—both within and outside the Balochistan Assembly—over the reinstatement of the Balochistan Mines and Minerals Act, calling it a major threat to the province’s control over its natural resources.
Addressing reporters at Sarawan House, Raisani revealed that his party had already filed a petition in court demanding a fresh review of the controversial law to ensure public ownership, transparency, and fair resource management. He expressed disappointment that no practical action had been taken so far. To address this, he said he had formally written to the leaders of all political parties, urging them to defend Balochistan’s economic and mineral rights.
Raisani emphasized that Balochistan’s natural wealth has fueled Pakistan’s economy since the discovery of natural gas in Sui in 1954, which helped the country emerge as an “Asian Tiger.” However, he lamented that federal governments and ruling elites have consistently exploited Balochistan’s resources, leaving nearly 80 percent of its people below the poverty line, according to a United Nations subsidiary report.
He accused federal institutions and their local collaborators of enacting laws that legitimize the exploitation of Balochistan’s minerals, warning that such actions undermine provincial autonomy and public welfare. “Through political movements and awareness campaigns, we are mobilizing citizens to stop the looting of our resources,” he said.
Raisani noted that his party had raised the issue in multiple All Parties Conferences (APCs) and through the opposition leader in the provincial assembly, eventually pressuring the Balochistan government to review and withdraw the disputed act through a joint resolution.
He recalled that Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had announced the law’s withdrawal through an executive order, promising to reintroduce it after consultation with all stakeholders to address its flaws. “Yet, no political party has been provided a copy of that executive order,” Raisani revealed, adding that his group had again approached the judiciary to obtain it.
Calling the continued silence of opposition parties alarming, Raisani urged lawmakers, political leaders, and opposition figures to take responsibility for amending flawed legislation and safeguarding Balochistan’s natural wealth.
Drawing comparisons, he said, “The chief ministers of Sindh and Punjab take concrete measures to protect their provinces’ rights over water and finances, but when it comes to Balochistan, the focus remains on exploitation instead of protection.”
He warned that future generations will not forgive today’s leadership if they fail to protect provincial resources. “Our mission is to raise public awareness and political consciousness so that no one can again use legislation as a tool to loot Balochistan’s wealth,” he added.
Answering a question, Raisani stressed that only political struggle can counter powerful interests, urging elected representatives to prioritize public rights and natural resource protection over PSDP allocations. “People have elected them to protect their rights—not to exploit their trust for personal or political gain,” he concluded.
