LANDI KOTAL: The political administration of Khyber Agency reopened its offices in militancy-affected Bara tehsil after more than eight years.

The administration arranged a ceremony in on Tuesday that was attended by a large number of local elders, traders and shopkeepers alongside representatives of civil society and common tribesmen.

Assistant Political Agent Asmatullah Wazir cut a ribbon to mark the reopening of his own office along with tehsildar and line officer of Khasadar Force in its old building in Bara Bazaar.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that he along with his assistants would regularly sit and perform official duty in the old office alongside shifting the office of National Database and Registration Authority to Bara for the convenience of the local people.

APA says banks will be persuaded to open branches in the area

He said that the administration was also trying to persuade banks to open their branches at Bara Bazaar. “Reopening of bank branches would help to accelerate economic and business activities in Bara Bazaar and restore the confidence of local traders,” said Mr Wazir.

He said that checking at the checkposts established on entry and exit points would be gradually relaxed so that ordinary tribesmen were not bothered in the name of security.

Lauding the reopening of the offices, representative of local traders Said Ayaz said that it would encourage businessmen to invest in Bara. He said that residents of Bara were finding it difficult to travel to Peshawar and Jamrud for pity official work. “Now they will find it convenient to visit all the officials concerned near their home towns,” he added.

The offices of political administration along with government schools, health units and work places of other government departments were shut down in September 2009 when security forces launched operations against militants in different areas of Bara.

PROTEST: Tribal elders from Shinwari, Zakhakhel and Shalman tribes along with representatives of clearing agents and transporters held a protest demonstration at Torkham border on Tuesday against what they called misuse of authority by National Logistic Cell (NLC).

Holding black flags and placards, the protesters chanted slogans against NLC.

Speaking on the occasion, Shah Hussain Shinwari, Malak Abdur Razzaq Zakhakhel, Mirajuddin, Zarqeeb Khan, Malak Tajuddin and Mujeebur Rehman said that unlawful activities of NLC officials and lower staff resulted in unemployment of hundreds of local residents along with adversely affecting bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan via Torkham.

They alleged that all activities of NLC were illegal as it was yet acquire a no objection certificate from Federal Board of Revenue for its activities at Torkham under sections 245 to 251 of the Customs Act.

“We appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take notice of NLC illegal activities at Torkham as it has earned a bad name for the country by discouraging trade with Afghanistan,” said the speakers.

They also appealed to FBR and Collectorate of Customs to conduct an impartial audit of the octroi the NLC staff was charging and collecting at their only designated vehicle weighing machine at Torkham.

They demanded of the Frontier Corps authorities to stop NLC staff of harassing both local people and Afghan nationals in the name of security.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2018