TMU grad’s victorious crusade against mining mafia in Pakistan

‘Abusive process’

Jadoon lives in the village of Ghumawan with his extended family, who are mostly underprivileged and unaware of their constitutionally protected rights. They are also unaware of the royalties that mine operators owe them for running quarries on communal lands.

“Villagers are breathing toxic dust from the quarries, as well as the giant crushing machines used to break down the limestone,” he said. 

“They’re developing health problems while the leaseholders, or miners derive all the financial benefits. They bear no liability for ecological or health and safety harm. It’s a very abusive process,” he explained.

Silence, stigma

Jadoon began his campaign in 2022 by calling a community meeting, known as a jirga. 

Dozens of villagers spoke against the miners, but he faced two big problems: Most of the miners were fellow villagers who also spoke at the jirga. 

The other problem was the stigma that attaches to anyone who speaks out against their neighbours.

“Here, mum's the word,” Jadoon said. “Everybody will be silent and bear the harm. Besides, everybody thought nothing was going to happen because they’ve been mining for 40 years.”

Nevertheless, he pursued the case against the miners at his own expense, first at the provincial Environmental Protection Tribunal, which issued an injunction against a local operation on March 11 of this past year. 

The leaseholder, who was operating about a dozen crushers, appealed to the High Court. It released a ruling on May 19. 

Milestone verdict

The ruling was a big victory for Jadoon. The High Court ordered the closure of crush plants in the entire province – about 900 of them. 

“The judge said the rate at which these crush machines are eating the mountains is unprecedented,” Jadoon says. “Pakistan is facing massive and destructive flooding and the root cause is we’re destroying our forests and mountains for mining.”

While he has earned the respect of most of the villagers, Jadoon has also upset some powerful interests. 

After thanking him for taking a stand against such a major issue, the court issued a statement of concern for Jadoon. “The court remarked that ‘You should take care of yourself. It seems like you’re taking on this entire mining mafia’.”