April 25, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1429

MIRAMSHAH, April 24: The protest movement launched by Khasadar personnel against non-payment of their salaries entered a new phase on Thursday when they blocked supply of goods to Afghanistan by occupying Ghulam Khan checkpost.

They staged a protest demonstration in favour of their demands in Miramshah, regional headquarters of North Waziristan, and claimed to have occupied Ghulam Khan checkpost and blocked supply of goods to Afghanistan.

Subidar Bismillah Madakhel, who is leading the movement, said that their people had occupied six more checkposts in the region. He said that personnel of the Levies Force had been removed from several checkposts including Khajuri, Esha, Boya and Dosali and had deployed their own people.

He said that trade with Afghanistan via Ghulam Khan checkpost had been stopped and the route would not be opened unless their demands were not met.

Thousands of protesting Khasadar personnel warned political administration to pay their salaries immediately otherwise they would abandon their duties. About 35 companies of Khasadar Force have gone on strike in the region.—Correspondent