Tribal elders held for opposing construction of Torkham terminal

LANDIKOTAL: Six tribal elders of Khyber Agency were arrested on Monday as part of their protest against the authorities on the issue of construction of the customs terminal at the Torkham border.
The officials had earlier issued warrant for a number of Khugakhel Shinwari tribesmen who protested at the Torkham border with Afghanistan against the distribution of shops by the authorities.
A Khugakhel elder, Mirajuddin said they had courted arrest to the Khassadar personnel and more such arrests would be offered in the days to come if the authorities failed to take them into confidence over the issue.
He asked the government to look into the matter and instead empower the Khugakhel elders to decide the distribution of newly constructed houses and recommend names for employment on Class-IV posts at the customs terminal.
Mirajuddin, the Khugakhel tribal elder said his tribe was not opposed to the construction of a modern customs terminal on their collective land at the Afghan border, adding that the local authorities should take pity on the poor tribesmen.
He said prior to the start of construction work at the terminal building, the local administration had verbally assured them that their tribe would be compensated for all the damage caused to the Khugakhel market in the area and shops affected by the new construction would be reconstructed at an alternate site and then handed over to Khugakhel elders.
Abdur Raziq, who is a Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf Landikotal leader, alleged that contrary to verbal assurance by the authorities, the applications for appointment on Class-IV posts at the said terminal were also invited from non-locals. He said the Khugakhel youth had been promised such posts on priority basis prior to the start of construction of the terminal building.