Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL
Truck drivers and transporters have complained of alleged extortion and harassment by custo ms and police personnel at Torkham and Michni checkposts along the Pak-Afghan Highway, claiming that officials demand money from them and subject those who refuse to pay to abuse and physical violence.
According to transporters, drivers returning from Afghanistan were allegedly asked to pay money at different points, including near the Michni Checkpost. They alleged that those who refuse to comply were sometimes beaten with sticks, verbally abused and threatened.
A video circulating on social media has also drawn attention to the allegations. In the video, a customs employee can allegedly be seen asking the driver of a container truck returning from Afghanistan to give him money. When the driver apparently refuses, the official is heard using harsh and abusive language and allegedly attempts to hit the truck with a stone.
Transporters further alleged that truck drivers were being charged Rs1,000 each in the name of “gate-in” and another Rs1,000 as “gate-out” charges, besides other alleged unofficial payments demanded at different points.
The drivers and transporters have appealed to senior customs and police authorities to take immediate notice of the complaints and the video, identify the officials involved and order a transparent and impartial investigation.
They also demanded strict action against any official or civilian allegedly involved in collecting illegal payments, said that such practices were causing serious hardship to transporters and damaging the reputation of government institutions.
The transporters urged the relevant high-ups to ensure that drivers returning from Afghanistan were treated respectfully and that no one was allowed to demand or forcibly collect money from them under any pretext.
The allegations could not immediately be independently verified, while the concerned authorities have yet to issue an official response.
