Raza Rabbani Urges Govt to Take Parliament Into Confidence Over ‘New US Policy’

ISLAMABAD: Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani on Monday called on the federal government to “immediately” take parliament and the public into confidence regarding what he termed a “new US policy,” expressing serious concern over reports suggesting the sale of Pakistan’s rare mineral resources and the alleged plan to offer Pasni Port to Washington.

In a statement, the senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader said it was “unfortunate” that details of critical national agreements were emerging through media reports rather than through official channels. “The federal government has not taken the people or parliament into confidence on the dynamics of the new relationship with the United States,” Rabbani said, stressing that it was the democratic right of citizens to know the direction of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

“The people deserve transparency,” he asserted. “In history, the US has never been a reliable friend to depend upon.”

Concerns Over Mineral Deals

Rabbani’s remarks come amid growing debate over Pakistan’s recent agreement with the US-based company US Strategic Metals (USSM), which signed a memorandum of understanding in September to invest nearly $500 million in establishing mineral extraction and processing facilities in Pakistan.

A sample shipment, prepared in collaboration with the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), was recently dispatched to the United States, containing antimony, copper concentrate, and rare earth elements such as neodymium and praseodymium.

Rabbani said that information about this deal — which directly concerns the country’s natural wealth — should not have surfaced through international media. “The real stakeholders are the provinces,” he emphasized, invoking Article 172 of the Constitution, which stipulates that mineral resources are jointly and equally owned by the provinces and the federation.

He reminded the government that the Council of Common Interests (CCI) must be consulted on such agreements. “The federal government fails to realise that provinces are 50 percent owners of mineral resources,” he noted, adding that several provincial governments had already rejected the federal government–sponsored minerals law, viewing it as an encroachment on their constitutional rights.

Pasni Port Reports Stir Fresh Controversy

Equally concerning, according to Rabbani, were reports published by The Financial Times suggesting that the Pasni Port might be offered to the United States under a new strategic framework.

Calling the move “alarming,” Rabbani warned that such a step could have “serious repercussions” for Pakistan’s relations with its regional partners, particularly China and Iran. “This decision, if true, could alter the balance of our regional relationships and compromise national interests,” he cautioned.

While military sources have since dismissed the report — clarifying that it was “a commercial idea” rather than an official policy — opposition parties have demanded full disclosure.

PTI Joins Call for Transparency

The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) echoed Rabbani’s concerns, accusing the government of engaging in “secretive and lopsided” dealings with Washington.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram said in a statement that the government must present all agreements before parliament. “We will never accept any deal struck at the expense of the people or the state’s interests,” he said.

He urged the prime minister to address the nation and clarify whether any commitments had been made regarding mineral resources or port access. “Such reckless and secretive agreements will only inflame the already volatile political situation,” Akram warned.

Call for Parliamentary Oversight

Rabbani reiterated that Pakistan’s foreign policy decisions — particularly those involving economic and strategic partnerships — must not bypass parliamentary oversight. “It is essential that the executive respects the parliament’s constitutional role,” he said.

Political analysts note that Rabbani’s statement reflects growing unease within the PPP, a key coalition partner in the federal government, over what many see as a lack of transparency in major policy shifts involving the US.

Conclusion

As Islamabad moves to deepen its economic and strategic ties with Washington, the government now faces mounting pressure from both opposition and coalition lawmakers to come clean on the specifics of its dealings.

Whether the reported mineral agreements and port discussions represent economic opportunity or geopolitical risk remains to be seen — but the call for transparency is growing louder across Pakistan’s political spectrum.

Until the government brings the matter before parliament, questions surrounding the scope, intent, and implications of the “new US policy” are likely to remain unanswered.