PESHAWAR: The political administration of North Waziristan Agency has been accused of violating directives of the government by receiving registration fee from the owners of the non-customs paid vehicles.
\nWhen contacted, North Waziristan\u2019s Political Agent Kamran Ahmad Afridi denied the allegations about registration of non-customs paid vehicles after the directives of the FATA Secretariat and violation of any order. He recalled there were neither dwellers nor vehicles in North Waziristan during the Zarb-e-Azb operation.
\nThe Fata Secretariat through a notification No FS\/L&O\/43\/385-95 on January 23, 2015 had directed all political agents to register the non-customs paid vehicles at local level in Fata to prevent the vehicles\u2019 use in terror activities.
\nThe directives from the Fata Secretariat had clearly mentioned that no fee would be received from the people, but the political administration of North Waziristan issued another notification 5461-67\/8 on September 21, 2015 to collect registration fee from the owners of the non-customs paid vehicles.
\nThe political administration of North Waziristan fixed Rs1,000 fee for motorcycle\/rickshaw, Rs5,000 for car, Rs8,000 for jeep and Rs10,000 for vans and pick-ups.The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had also issued directives to the officials concerned not to receive registration fee from the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
\nAn Assistant Political Agent Fahad Ikram Qazi in his report, a copy of which is available with The News, disclosed that the political agent registered non-custom paid vehicles owned by the Afghans even though it was clear violation of the National Action Plan.
\nThe report said it was astonishing to note that the political administration in North Waziristan also registered the vehicles owned by Afghan refugees.It alleged that the political agent deposited the money received from the owners of the non-customs paid vehicles in his own bank account and the staff on duty for registration of vehicles was awarded 10 percent commission.
\nThe political administration reportedly registered more than 4,500 vehicles.The deputy secretary, Fata Secretariat, Law and Order, Peshawar, in a reminder, No; FS\/L&O\/43-NCP4622-26, on March 14, 2016, under the subject \u201cRegulating of non-customs paid vehicles\u201d had reminded the political agents of Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, North and South Waziristan agencies about the previous directives issued on December 10, 2015, followed by another reminder dated January 4, 2016 on the subject cited above.
\n\u201cThe registration process has been completed and no further extension for registration of vehicles is granted beyond the stipulated period. You were also requested that the following may be confirmed and furnish report within one week time, but in vain,\u201d it added.
\nThe reminder stated \u201cthat no registration of non-customs paid vehicles has been made beyond the deadline communicated vide para 2, of this office letter No FS\/L&O\/43\/385-95 issued on January 23, 2015.It stated that no fee was charged for this purpose, as directed vide para (9) of the letter mentioned above.
\nThe letter said: \u201cThe competent authority has shown dissatisfaction for non-compliance. I am directed to request you to furnish the requisite information within one week time for perusal of the competent authority; otherwise, disciplinary action would be initiated.\u201d
\nKamran Afridi , the political agent, gave an entirely different version of events. He said steps were taken in consultation with the civil higher-ups and the military to check the smuggling and misuse of non-customs paid vehicles in North Waziristan.
\nHe said they also developed software in Islamabad for the enlistment of vehicles in the presence of army officials.He said about 4,000 vehicles were registered during one month and the authorities were insisting to continue the process.
\nIn the beginning, he said the repatriation of IDPs was slow but \u201cnow the process has been accelerated.\u201d \u201cThe number of repatriating families in one month was 200, but now more than 400 families are returning to their hometowns,\u201d he pointed out.
\nHe said the authorities in Fata Secretariat were in the know of the process but a few Political Muharrirs took away with them the entire record when he transferred them from their lucrative posts.
\nTerming them a mafia that was collecting money from the people on the registration of vehicles, he added: \u201cI issued their arrest warrant when they took away the record and informed the CCP and Fata Secretariat but they obtained stay order from the court,\u201d he said.
\nRegarding enlistment of Afghan vehicles, he said it wasn\u2019t possible as the picture of each and every vehicle was taken at the roadside checkposts. Presently, he said, the border had been sealed and 50,000 army soldiers were performing duties there.
\n\u201cIt means the entire Zarb-e-Azb has failed if someone can enlist non-customs paid vehicles and cross the Pak-Afghan border,\u201d he argued. \u201cHow can I deposit government funds in my personal bank account? I had also presented the official accounts in the assembly\u2019s standing committee and SAFRON meeting,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR: The political administration of North Waziristan Agency has been accused of violating directives of the government by receiving registration fee from the owners of the non-customs paid vehicles. When contacted, North Waziristan\u2019s Political Agent Kamran Ahmad Afridi denied the allegations about registration of non-customs paid vehicles after the directives of the FATA Secretariat and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5502","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n