Customs clearing agents demand release of colleagues

LANDIKOTAL: The All Torkham Customs Clearing Agents Association on Tuesday threatened to give a countrywide protest call if their colleagues were not released within 24 hours.

Speaking at a press conference, association Chairman Merajuddin Shinwari, President Mujeeb Shinwari, Hayatullah, Hazrat Umar, Qari Nazim Gul Shinwari and others denounced the arrest and sought the release of their colleagues.

They said that the authorities should have approached the association before making the arrests.“We are respected businessmen, not criminals. The act of detaining and mistreating our colleagues is unjust. If they are involved in any wrongdoing, they should have been handed over to the relevant authorities, such as Pakistan Customs authority, Federal Investigation Agency(FIA) instead of being held without trial,” said Mujeeb Shinwari. He said every citizen had a legal right to be produced before a court within 24 hours.

He said that the Federal Board of Revenue set the import, export and declaration policies at the Torkham border, while Customs authorities implemented them. He said customs agents facilitated the process. Shinwari urged authorities to ensure business security at Torkham, emphasizing that trade and labour at the border were the primary sources of income for the local population. He lamented that many traders had relocated to other areas due to increasing difficulties.