Daily Times

KHYBER AGENCY: All export and import clearing processes were suspended at Torkham border for the third consecutive day as agitation by Torkham Clearing Agents’ Association (CAA) against the imposition of WeBOC system continued on Wednesday.

In this connection, a massive protest rally was organised at the Landi Kotal Bazaar that was attended by hundreds of clearing workers along with large numbers of volunteers of Khyber Political Alliance as well as local tribesmen.

The agitators were holding banners inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands and chanted full-throated slogans like, “WeBOC is unacceptable,” “Go NLC Go” etc. They marched from Hospital Square to Bacha Chowk in protest of their demands.

Addressing on the occasion, speakers including Torkham CAA Chairman Mirajuddin Shinwari, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal Secretary General Mufti Muhammad Ijaz, Jamat-e-Islam Deputy Zarnoor Afridi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Leader Abdur Raziq Shinwari, Pakistan People’s Party Leader Altaf Afridi, Awami National Party President Shah Hussain Shinwari and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Yousaf Afridi along with others, criticised the authorities for the implementation of WeBOC system in custom centre Torkham for clearing process and declared economical assassination of the tribal people, adding that the National Logistic Cell (NLC) was the real performer behind the anti-tribesmen policy as it wanted to take hold of the whole business of Torkham border.

They added that earlier on, the pretext of security handcarts were banned on the border and then barriers were erected in front of all private business centres in Torkham Bazaar. This left thousands of local tribal jobless and now with the introduction of WeBOC system, the lonely functional activity of the tribesmen ie, goods clearing process would be shut.

“Security of the job is state’s responsibility, but ironically in tribal region, it is upside down as NLC deprives the tribal of their legal works by restricting all privates business in Torkham,” they remarked.

The representatives of the agents association were of the opinion that NLC threatened them to approve the new system or be ready for dire consequences, but they vowed that they would not bow down to pressure. They also asked the agents’ associations of Chaman, Kharlachi, Jamrud and others to join them in their struggle.

The speakers complained that relaxation had been granted to trading activities at Wagah border, however Torkham had made no such arrangement, adding that the tribesmen would not let anybody usurp their rights.

They also condemned the silent role of the administration and said the officials were engaged in corruption and had turned a blind eyes to the grievances of the locals.

The agent association reiterated that until revision of the WeBOC was carried out, their protest would continue.

They threatened that if their demands were not addressed, they would have no other option but to organise a sit-in in front of Parliament.

Published in Daily Times, March 1^st 2018.