KHYBER AGENCY, Feb 26: Afghan nationals stranded in Khyber Agency due to blockade of Torkham border initiated a protest rally here in LandiKotal bazaar on Sunday.
Dozens of Afghan citizens, holding their passport copies marched from bypass to Bacha Khan chowk. They were chanting full throat slogans for immediate resuming of the border so that they could return to their country.
Speaking on the occasion the stuck Afghanis said that for the last ten days they have been humiliated by serving nights on footpath under an open sky in the chilly weather.
They were on the view that most of the stranded Afghan citizens have run out of money and they have been compelled of starving or on the mercy of local philanthropists.
We have been in Pakistan on legal travelling documents and as per law; the government of Pakistan has to let us to go back to our country, Afghanistan.
“I have been stranded for the last nine days and have been residing at under construction mosque in LandiKotal bazaar in cold weather” explained Sher Ali of Logar province in Afghanistan. I have slept in last few days owing to chilly weather and lack of sleeping resources, he sorrowed.
“I spent all of my Rs 2000 cash in nine days and now moneyless as an unknown old man gave me Rs 100 for launch today” he said and adding I have nothing for dinner to eat and wait for mercy of Allah Almighty.
Another Afghan citizen, Ajab Gull, sitting in a distress situation said that I had rented a room in LandiKotal bazaar on Rs 1200 and the place was not favorable to stay. I have only a sheet to cover myself and live in cold weather as it was unbearable for them to stay any more in such condition, he added.
They demanded of the Pak government to have mercy on them and issue forthwith direction for their respectful return to Afghanistan.
It is to be mentioning here that aftermath of militants attacks in several cities of Pakistan last week, the Torkham border was suspended for all kind of movement that restricted hundreds of Afghan nationals including women and children in LandiKotal.
