Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday announced a ban on gold mining across the province and the revocation of all mining leases as part of measures to curb illegal mining.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Governor Kundi condemned the attack in Kohat that claimed the lives of
10 police personnel returning from an operation against illegal mining in the region.
He said an exemplary operation would be launched against those responsible for the attack, as well as their facilitators, as part of the government’s future strategy.
“There will be zero tolerance for those involved in this,” he said.
The governor also directed mining leaseholders to remove heavy machinery from the relevant areas within a week, warning that they would be held responsible for any losses incurred otherwise.
“After one week, the machinery, if not removed, will be seized,” Governor Kundi said, adding that the fines imposed this time would not be limited to Rs25,000 or Rs30,000, as had been the case under magistrates, but could reach Rs2 million under the law.
“We are also investigating why fines were not being imposed in accordance with the law,” he said.
The governor added that any politicians or individuals from other institutions found to be involved in illegal mining would be punished in accordance with the law.
On the Kohat incident, Governor Kundi said that following the
imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule, the administration had launched an operation against illegal gold mining.
On October 11, 2026, the federal government imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in KP following the President’s approval of the federal cabinet’s recommendations. It cited KP government’s “deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism” and the deteriorating security situation in the province.
An 11-member technocratic KP Advisory Council was formed to assist the governor in running the province, and a new chief secretary was appointed.
He said police personnel were targeted by
Fitna al-Khawarij while returning from a successful operation.
“
Fitna al-Khawarij and illegal miners had a nexus. The miners used to pay extortion money to the terrorists and, in return, received protection from them,” the governor said, adding that this nexus was responsible for the martyrdom of the police personnel.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
He also shared a list of illegal mining equipment and machinery operating in Kohat. Mining was under way in two blocks — C and D — he said.
“Some 8,350 trucks, 3,660 excavators, 1,730 tractor trolleys with dynamos, 1,600 dumpers, 200 heavy loaders and between 49,000 and 51,000 labourers were involved in the mining activity,” Governor Kundi said, adding that illegal mining was worth Rs4.92 billion a month.
“Eighty per cent of the profits were being sent to Afghanistan and used for terrorist activities against Pakistan,” he said.
The governor further stated that during the tenure of the PTI government, a ‘Youth Committee’ was formed in February 2026 under the chairmanship of a Taliban leader, Naimatullah alias Commander.
“The purpose of this Youth Committee was to collect extortion money from locals and non-locals — Rs800,000 from locals and Rs110,000 from non-locals every week,” he said.
The money was being used by
Fitna al-Khawarij against Pakistan, its security forces and police, he added.
The governor assured that there would be no political victimisation, adding that anyone found involved in the nexus would be held accountable.
“If there is no system of reward and punishment, neither this province nor this country will move forward. This country can no longer run under the doctrine of necessity,” he said.
He said anyone found guilty, whether a politician, bureaucrat or police officer, would have to face the consequences, regardless of how influential they were.
Governor Kundi also shared a list of people allegedly involved in illegal activities across KP, including 12 politicians: Aftab Alam of PTI, MNA Sheheryar Afridi of PTI, Senator Khurram Zeeshan of PTI, former Gambat town nazim Sajid Iqbal, former Lachi town nazim Ehsan, former MNA Amjad Afridi of PPP, former district mayor Seth Saifullah of JUI-F, Naseem Afridi, former JUI-F candidate Advocate Hammad Azam, Sohail Afridi’s brother Naveed, Azhar Bukhari and Nazir Afridi.
He also shared a list of local residents allegedly involved in the illegal activities.
The governor announced the establishment of a task force, named after martyred Deputy Superintendent of Police Haider Zaman, to formulate a “comprehensive and lasting” strategy for gold mining activities in KP within three weeks.
“We are bringing in a comprehensive system governing mining leases, related laws and security for mining workers under future leases,” he said.
Governor Kundi also announced that a judicial commission, headed by a retired Peshawar High Court (PHC) judge, would be formed by the following week to investigate the Kohat attack.
“We hope that the report will come soon so those responsible can be held accountable,” he said.
The governor also urged members of the KP Advisory Council to investigate all those involved in illegal gold mining and examine how large numbers of mining licences had been granted.
At the outset of his press conference, the KP governor said more than a month had passed since the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP. “We will try to move in the right direction,” he said.
He said action had been taken in certain areas and the administration had received positive feedback.
“However, our topmost priority is to restore peace in the province and protect the rights and lives of the people,” he said.
Governor Kundi said the provincial administration had also decided to protect KP’s resources and would not allow anyone to plunder them.
Referring to the recent two-day minerals conference, the governor said the province was keen to enter into joint ventures to utilise its resources. However, he added, protecting the people and their rights would come first.
“For the past 13 years, the resources of our province have been looted,” he said.
He said that whenever the provincial government invited international investors and national companies to invest in KP’s natural resources, some people opposed the move, claiming that the province’s resources were being sold off.
“We are not selling your resources. Above all, the interests of the people of the province will be protected,” he said.
Governor Kundi alleged that those raising objections to the initiative were themselves responsible for plundering KP’s resources.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had
alleged that the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in KP in October 2026 was linked to the federal government’s motive to take control of the province’s resources.
“We are fighting a war against terrorism and we have burnt our boats. Accepting defeat is not a choice for us,” Kundi said, reaffirming his commitment to winning the fight against terrorism and bringing peace and development to the province.
The governor reiterated his call for an effective system of reward and punishment, vowing that no one who had plundered the province’s resources would be spared, regardless of their position or status.
