Minerals Agreement with America and Land Port Authority Bill Prompts National Debate
By Syed Yousuf Shah
As soon as Pakistan was established, the plunder of Sindh’s resources had already begun. Sindhi Hindus were evicted from the region, and their abandoned properties were distributed through false pretenses, depriving the original heirs of Sindh of the right to purchase them. Karachi was occupied by the Centre. Even the very name of Sindh was challenged by forming One Unit, and the golden lands of Sindh were given as gifts to retired soldiers and sportsmen. The waters of the Indus River were being exploited, and the Federation did not miss any pretext to seize Sindh’s resources. Following the elections held under Form 47 last year, the rulers who came to power have begun to plunder Sindh with both hands on the instructions of their masters.
During this period, six canals were constructed on the Indus River; an attempt was made to divert or dry up the river; millions of acres of Sindh’s land were transferred to the Pakistan Green Initiative Company under corporate farming. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which has been declared unconstitutional by all opposition political parties under the Constitution of Pakistan and has been demanded to be abolished, sought to take over agriculture through the common people of Sindh. The Mines and Minerals Bill was introduced to establish central control over all important minerals in Sindh, and there was talk of introducing a presidential system, declaring the existing parliamentary system a failure. There were calls from the Prime Minister’s Office to construct canals and dams again to prevent floods, particularly the Kalabagh Dam, which had been unanimously rejected by three provinces and which even a dictator like Musharraf had failed to build. The 26th Constitutional Amendment was enacted to strip the courts of their powers, and an atmosphere of fear, terror, and intimidation was created through police brutality so that the future and security of the country could be jeopardized to fulfill the unlawful and unconstitutional ambitions of a single individual.
According to recent news, two memorandums of understanding were signed between companies investing in American mineral resources—United States Strategic Metals and Frontier Works Organization (FWO), Mota-Engil Group—and Pakistan’s National Logistics Company—in the presence of the Prime Minister, Field Marshal, Federal Ministers, and officials from the U.S. Embassy. Acting U.S. Ambassador Natalie Baker stated that this agreement would further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and the United States and would benefit both countries. The prior administration in the United States has included such agreements among its priorities. The mineral resources available in Pakistan are deemed to be of considerable strategic importance for American security and prosperity. It is anticipated that there will be additional agreements between American companies and Pakistan regarding minerals and coal mines. It should be noted that this agreement was reportedly negotiated in considerable secrecy and confidentiality by the Pakistani government, and was announced by the U.S. President rather than by Pakistan. According to this agreement, gold, copper, and other rare and valuable minerals available in the country will be extracted, with an initial investment of fifty billion dollars (approximately 14,191 billion rupees), and a modern polymetallic refinery will be built in Pakistan by American companies. It is noteworthy that the U.S. ambassador publicly affirmed that “the mineral resources available in Pakistan are extremely important for American security and prosperity.”
Read: US firm makes a $500 million investment deal with Pakistan for critical minerals
In truth, all these efforts appear to be geared toward the appropriation of Sindh’s resources, as reports indicate that of the country’s 293 oil and gas wells, 244 are located in Sindh. Large coal reserves are also found in the Thar Desert of Sindh, and four offshore sites contain substantial quantities of oil and LPG reserves. It is no secret that the United States has advanced greatly in science, technology, and geological knowledge. Based on this scientific knowledge and through satellite surveillance, it has not been difficult to identify and exploit hidden treasures. This explains why Sindh’s concealed mineral riches have drawn attention from abroad.
This development also forms part of a broader pattern of resource extraction by the federation, under which President Asif Zardari has signed a new bill modeled on the SIFC and established a “Land Port Authority.” Under this arrangement, the federation has assumed ownership and control over the sea, ports, islands in the sea, and all other sea-related properties, whereas previously these belonged to the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. Now, by establishing the “Land Port Authority,” maritime properties of Sindh and Balochistan—regions with a long historical association to Pakistan—have come under federal control. This arrangement appears intended to facilitate the United States’ access to transport our gold, copper, oil, gas, coal, and other valuable minerals by sea.
As a consequence of the Land Port Authority Bill, all the islands of Sindh could be altered or destroyed, and large international cities could be built on them. In the name of “security,” fishing opportunities for the fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan could be curtailed, or they could be displaced. With the provinces losing control over the ports, local fishermen may be prevented from docking their boats and launches at these ports. Since coastal properties would come under federal control, lands and villages along the coast could also come under federation jurisdiction. The fishermen who have lived in these villages for generations, many without land ownership rights and deprived of basic facilities of life, could be evicted, and foreigners, including American citizens, could be settled in their stead, undermining the livelihoods of local fishermen.
The federation and its rulers should understand that, in the presence of the constitution, such foreign trade agreements should be evaluated under Article 172 of the Constitution. The constitution contemplates that 50 percent of the country’s land, minerals, and other valuable resources shall be allocated to the provinces. However, the current federal rulers have neither consulted Parliament regarding steps taken under the new Western agenda nor convened a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CIC) to discuss the agreement and determine the shares due to the provinces under the constitution. Conversely, bills like the Land Port Authority are regarded as directly contravening the Constitution and as acts of constitutional breach, treated as deferred or “rejected” according to constitutional procedures. Yet, owing to the disempowerment of the courts under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, no court has yet taken Suo Motu action against the federation’s unconstitutional steps, which are also contrary to the provincial rights guaranteed by the 18th Amendment, among others. No democratic party has challenged these unconstitutional steps. The Constitution has effectively been cast into the “dust bin” by the rulers, and decisions are being made to serve the whims and intentions of a single individual. It would appear that numerous corruption files have been prepared, constraining the rulers’ tongues and compelling them to obey every order of the real power holders, who are heard saying “Aamannaa-o-Saddaqna.” As a result of these illegal and unconstitutional decisions, we have become completely subjugated and virtually have no rights in our province. Previously, protests were raised against plans and conspiracies; now, anti-Sindh measures are being implemented. The evidence is that memorandums are being signed with American companies at the highest federal level, while maritime resources are increasingly placed under federation control through legislation such as the “Land Port Authority.” It is essential that all democratic, progressive, and nationalist parties in the country unite and organize a large, peaceful movement to reclaim their historic rights; otherwise, our provinces and historic states may become slaves forever, akin to Palestine.
Read: Grabbing Sindh lands for Corporate Farming!
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By Syed Yousuf Shah is a Karachi-based political and social activist
