Ahmad Nabi
LANDI KOTAL: All export and import clearing process was suspended at Torkham border for the third consecutive day as agitation of Torkham clearing agents’ association against imposition of WeBOC system was in progress here on Wednesday.
In this connection a massive protest rally was organized in Landi Kotal Bazaar that was attended by hundreds of clearing workers along with large numbers of volunteers of Khyber Political Alliance and local tribesmen. The agitators were holding banners inscribed with slogans in favor of their demands and chanted full-throat slogans, like “WeBOC is unacceptable, ” “go NLC go” etc, marched from Hospital Square to Bacha Chawk where it turned into a public gathering.
Addressing on the occasion speakers including Chairman clearing agents association, Torkham Mirajuddin Shinwari, Sectary General Jamiat Ullema-e-Islam, Fazalrehman(JUI-F) Mufti Muhammad Ijaz, naib ameer Jamat-e-Islam (JI) FATA, Zarnoor Afridi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), FATA Leader Abdurraziq Shinwari, Pakistan People Party (PPP) local leader Altaf Afridi, Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Agency President Shah Hussain Shinwari, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa transport President Yousaf Afridi, Shakir Afridi, nominated candidate from NA-45 Shermat Khan Afridi and others criticized the authorities for implementation of WeBOC system in custom center Torkham for clearing process and declared economical assassination of the tribal, adding National Logistic Cell(NLC)was the real performer behind the anti-tribesmen policy to take hold of the whole business of Torkham border.
They added that earlier on pretext of security handcarts were banned on the border and then barriers were erected in front of all private business centers in Torkham bazaar left thousands of local tribal jobless and now with introduction of WeBOC system, the lonely functional activity of the tribesmen i.e., goods clearing process would be shut. “Security of job is State responsibility but ironically in tribal region it is upside down as NLC deprive the tribal of their legal works by restricting all privates business in Torkham”, they remarked.
The representatives of the agents association were on the views that NLC threatened them to approve the new system or be ready for dire consequences of it but they vowed that they would not hesitate of any sacrifice. They also asked agent associations of Chaman, Kharlachi, Jamrud and others to join them in their struggle. The speakers complain that relaxation had been granted to trading activities at Wahga border but Torkham had been made no zone that was step mother behavior towards them and adding the tribesmen were awakened and they would not let to anybody to usurp their rights.
