Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL
With the Torkham border remaining closed for the past ten months, traders, transporters and customs clearing agents have announced a major public protest on August 2, warning that the Landikotal Bazaar and the Pak-Afghan Highway would be shut down if the government fails to reopen the vital trade crossing Torkham border.
Speaking to a press conference here at District Press Club Landikotal on Monday, All Torkham Customs Clearing Agents Association has announced a public protest rally against the prolonged closure of the Torkham border. They said the demonstration would be held on August 2 at 10:00am at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landikotal Bazaar.
Custom agents President Mujeeb Shinwari, Meraj Shinwari, representatives of the transport union,labour union and trader leader Aftab Shinwari and other said that
They appealed to political parties leaders,workers,civil societu members, traders and local residents to participate in the rally and raise a united voice against the continued closure of the border.
They said the prolonged shutdown had pushed customs clearing agents, transporters, traders and daily wage workers into severe financial hardship, with thousands of families facing unemployment and poverty.
The speakers said they had repeatedly raised the issue with the relevant authorities, staged several protests and exhausted all available forums, but no meaningful action had been taken to resolve the crisis.
They also announced full support for the shutter-down strike launched by the trader community in Bara, warning that if their demands were not met, protesters would shut down Landikotal Bazaar and block the Pak-Afghan Highway on August 2.
The leaders stressed that the livelihoods of a large section of the population in Landikotal depend directly on cross-border trade through Torkham and urged the government to take immediate and effective measures to reopen the crossing.
They also called on elected public representatives to join the protest and stand with the affected communities.
Speaking on the occasion, Merajuddin Shinwari said the relevant authorities had remained silent despite being fully aware of the public’s difficulties. He warned that if the issue remained unresolved, the protest movement would intensify in the coming days.
