Aimal Wali Khan Calls for Unified Struggle to Address Balochistan’s Issues and Revoke the Mines and Minerals Act 2025

Quetta:In a crucial press conference on Saturday, **Aimal Wali Khan**, President of the Awami National Party (ANP) and Senator, declared that the **primary objective of bringing together opposition and government parties in Balochistan** is to address the province’s burning issues, such as the **looting of mineral resources**, the **merger of Levies into the police**, and the revival of **border trade from Gwadar to Bajaur**.

Aimal Wali Khan demanded **immediate cessation of military operations** and highlighted the catastrophic impact of **past foreign and domestic policies**, including **terrorism**, **extremism**, and **instability**, which have plagued the region for the last 78 years.

At the press conference, attended by key political figures such as **Khushal Khan Kakar**, **Mir Kabir Ahmed Shahi**, **Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal**, and several other leaders, Aimal Wali Khan announced that all political parties participating in the **All Parties Conference (APC)** would present a **joint resolution in the Balochistan Assembly** against the **Mines and Minerals Act 2025**.

He added that a **committee** consisting of all APC members would be formed to chart a course of action and ensure that their demands are realized. Aimal Wali Khan emphasized that on the **court hearing related to the Mines and Minerals Act**, the leadership and workers of all participating parties would be present to show their unity in this cause.

In his speech, Khan expressed deep concern over the **ongoing state-imposed terrorism** and **instability** in both **Pashtun and Baloch territories**, attributing these crises to the region’s **misguided foreign and domestic policies** over the past seven decades. The military operations have inflicted **human and financial damage**, and there are growing calls for **international human rights commissions** to investigate and address these atrocities through a **Truth Commission**.

Khan also condemned the recent **violence and attacks on political workers**, particularly mentioning the **burning of freight trucks** and the **kidnapping of passengers** on highways. He demanded that the **death squads** operating under various guises be dismantled. Furthermore, he rejected the **upcoming 2024 elections**, calling them an **auction of democracy**, and demanded **free, fair, and transparent elections** under an independent election commission.

Among the many issues highlighted, Khan emphasized the need to **revoke the Mines and Minerals Act** and challenged the **illegal actions of the SIFC (Special Investment Facilitation Council)**, which he claimed violates the **18th Amendment**. He called for full implementation of the **18th Amendment** and restoration of **constitutional rights** for the provinces.

Additionally, Khan condemned the **merger of Levies Force into the police**, demanding its reversal and an overhaul of the force with modern standards. The **fake allotment** of ancestral lands to outsiders in several districts of Balochistan, including **Ziarat**, **Harnai**, and **Nushki**, should be annulled, he stated, urging for the immediate **restoration of borders for trade routes** between **Gwadar and Bajaur**.

He further called for the **release of political prisoners** like **Ali Wazir**, **Mama Ghafar**, and **Ma Rang**, who are currently detained under draconian laws like **Section 3 of the MPO**. Khan also voiced concerns about **media freedom** and demanded the **repeal of the PICA Act**, while reaffirming support for the **judiciary** and the ongoing struggle for justice, especially the arrest of **those responsible for killing leaders like Maulana Khan Zia**.

In the conclusion of his remarks, Khan made it clear that the **APC and the jirga** have decided to **challenge the state**, and a **committee** will be formed to **push forward their agenda**, ensuring that their **rights and defense** are prioritized in the face of rising challenges.

**”We are committed to fighting for our rights, and we will not back down,”** Aimal Wali Khan concluded, asserting that the parties involved will ensure that **decisions are implemented** at every step of the way.