Transporters and local traders on Saturday held a demonstration in Torkham against the National Logistics Cell (NLC) and the Frontier Corps (FC) for making it mandatory for everyone to carry passport for verification at the border before crossing into Afghanistan.
Reportedly, a large number of truckers, local businessmen and auto-parts dealers gathered near Torkham border and chanted full-throat slogans against the NLC and the FC for what they termed as ‘anti-tribesmen’ policies being implemented in the region.
A senior customs clearing agent, Haji Nazeem Gul Shinwari, while leading the demonstration, said that such policies by the NLC and the FC have forced many small-time traders and businessmen to abandon their trading activities at the border.
He said that they were never asked about their passports nor had the Afghan border authorities ever objected to their frequent cross-border movement in connection with their business.
Meanwhile, the officials posted at the main crossing point demanded of a group of local traders on Saturday to have their passports prior to crossing the border. They were returned as none of them had it.
They expressed concerns over authority of the NLC and asserted that it was a private organisation to facilitate imports and exports, and had no right to inspect their passports.
They warned that they would continue to agitate until the decision of requirement of passport was cancelled by the authorities.
Published in Daily Times, September 23rd 2018.
