ISLAMABAD: Former Senate chairperson Raza Rabbani has called on the federal government to immediately brief parliament on what he termed its “new US policy,” expressing concern over reported deals involving rare minerals and a possible plan to offer Pasni Port to Washington.
In a statement issued on Monday, Rabbani said the government had failed to take parliament and the public into confidence regarding the evolving relationship with the United States. “It is the right of the people to know the details and direction of foreign policy. In history, the US has never been a reliable friend to depend upon,” he stated.
Referring to media reports about a minerals deal with US Strategic Metals (USSM), Rabbani said it was “unfortunate” that such critical information had surfaced through the media rather than official channels. He stressed that the provinces — the “real stakeholders” — should have been consulted through the Council of Common Interests, noting that Article 172 of the Constitution grants provinces a 50 percent share in mineral resources.
He also reminded the government that the provinces had previously rejected the federal government-sponsored minerals law, which has faced resistance, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Rabbani described reports suggesting that Pasni Port might be offered to the US as “alarming,” warning that such a move could have serious implications for Pakistan’s regional relationships.
His remarks come as Pakistan and the United States deepen their economic and strategic engagement, including a deal for the export of rare earth minerals. USSM recently sent its first consignment of mineral samples — including antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements — to the United States in collaboration with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).
Meanwhile, the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has criticized the government over what it called “secretive and one-sided agreements” with Washington. PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram urged the government to disclose full details of all deals, warning that such actions could “further inflame the already volatile situation in the country.”
Military sources have denied claims made in international media that Pakistan intends to offer Pasni Port to the US, clarifying that the proposal was “a commercial idea,” not official policy.
