LANDI KOTAL: Ban imposed on activities of transporters’ union
By Ibrahim Shinwari
LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Aug 25: The political administration of Landi Kotal has imposed a ban on the activities of the All-Khyber Transporters Union, official sources said.Assistant Political Agent Landi Kotal Ahmad Khan Aurakzai announced the decision at a joint meeting of transporters and officials here on Friday.
Mr Aurakzai told the meeting that the decision had been taken on the directives of NWFP Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai. The governor, he said, was not happy with the involvement of transporters’ union in what he called some unlawful activities.
He said that the meeting that the local elders had lodged several complaints with the administration against the attitude of the transporters. The blockade of the Peshawar-Torkhum highway had become a routine, he said and alleged that the union wanted to blackmail both the administration and drivers with such tactics.
Mr Aurakzai said the union members were over stepping their limits. The union activities had become a threat to the law and order situation in the area, he said and alleged that the union was also involved in the recent suspension of oil supply to Afghanistan.
Sources in the assistant political agent office told Dawn that the imposition of ban had become necessary after the administration had received several complaints by a number of truck and oil tankers drivers about extortion of money at the Torkhem border.
They claimed the All-Khyber Transporters Union had unlawfully established an office at Torkhum and were forcibly charging Rs200 from every vehicle crossing into Afghanistan.
