PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has announced the cancellation of all gold mining leases across the province, exposing what he described as a powerful illegal mining mafia whose operations are allegedly linked to terrorism, extortion and the smuggling of gold into Afghanistan.
Addressing a hard-hitting press conference in Peshawar, Kundi said the province’s natural resources had been plundered for the past 13 years. He alleged that the illegal mining network had flourished at the expense of the state and local communities, while efforts to bring in legitimate local and international investors had faced resistance from vested interests.
The governor revealed that illegal gold placer mining in parts of Kohat alone was extracting around 90 kilogrammes of gold every month, with an estimated monthly value of Rs4.2 billion.
He said thousands of pieces of heavy machinery, tractors and dump trucks were being used in the illegal operations. According to Kundi, around 80% of the extracted gold was smuggled into Afghanistan, with proceeds allegedly reaching networks involved in terrorism against Pakistan.
The governor also alleged that so-called youth committees formed during the previous government had been used to extort millions of rupees from local and non-local individuals. He said the networks behind these collections had links to criminal and militant elements.
Ten Police Personnel Martyred After Anti-Mining Operation
Kundi linked the illegal mining network to deadly attacks on law enforcement personnel. He said Fitna al-Khawarij militants launched attacks after the state moved against illegal gold mining operations in Kohat.
According to the governor, 10 police personnel, including DSP Haider Zaman, were martyred after returning from an operation to stop illegal mining. Security forces subsequently killed 18 militants in retaliatory operations, he added.
Calling for an end to the bloodshed and the challenge to the state’s authority, Kundi announced a special task force named after martyred DSP Haider Zaman to dismantle the networks allegedly involved in illegal mining and related criminal activities.
Political Figures Named in Alleged Mining Network
The governor also named several political figures and other individuals whom he accused of backing or being directly involved in the illegal mining business.
Those named included PTI figures Aftab Alam, Shehryar Afridi, Khurram Zeeshan, Sajid Iqbal and Ehsan Lachi; PPP’s Amjad Afridi; and JUI-F figures Seth Gohar Saifullah, Naseem Afridi and Imad Azam.
Kundi also named Naveed, the brother of a former chief minister, along with Azhar Bukhari, Nazir Afridi, the Badshah Khan group and Hafiz Israfel.
The allegations against these individuals have not been independently verified. They should be given an opportunity to respond.
All Gold Mining Leases Cancelled
Announcing the government’s action, Kundi said all gold mining activities and lease agreements across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been cancelled. He directed miners and contractors to remove their machinery from mining sites within seven days, warning that those who failed to comply would face decisive state action.
He also announced a judicial commission headed by a retired judge to investigate the illegal mining operations, the Kohat incident and the alleged network behind the business.
The commission will also examine the alleged involvement of corrupt magistrates and government officials, he said.
Kundi vowed that those found responsible would face action without discrimination, adding that the provincial government’s resources would no longer be allowed to fall into the hands of illegal mining networks.
