LANDI KOTAL: The Khyber chapter of Jamiat Ulama Islam-Fazl has demanded an independent audit of all the funds utilised by National Logistics Cell in the name of constructing a modern custom terminal at Torkham border.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, JUI-F leader Qari Nazeem Gul Shinwari said that the contract for constructing the terminal was awarded to NLC few years ago but it failed to initiate work on it despite collection of millions of rupees from the trucks weighing machine installed at the border.

He alleged that the NLC staff was checking passports and visas of both Afghans and Pakistanis unlawfully besides y delaying unnecessarily custom clearance of import and export items in the name of security checking.

JUI-F leader blames staff of cell for interfering in immigration, custom affairs

The JUI leader said that undue interference by NLC staff during clearance of goods affected bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan besides causing mental stress and financial losses to local and Afghan traders.

Mr Shinwari questioned NLC legal authority of interfering in both immigration and custom clearing matters. He said that it was only a construction company assigned with the task of building a custom terminal for the convenience of traders and transporters.

“We demand of the authorities to probe collection of millions of rupees from the weighing machine every month by NLC. Why the cell has so far failed to initiate work on the much delayed custom terminal,” he questioned.

Mr Shinwari demanded of the NLC authorities to remove their staff from immigration and custom offices as those offices had their own efficient staff.

He also demanded exemption of local traders, transporters and custom clearing agents from acquiring visa for their repeated cross-border movement on daily basis in connection with their business. He urged the local authorities to issue them temporary route permits for their convenience.

Meanwhile, officials said that Torkham border crossing would remain open during Ashura with additional security measures adopted to check the cross-border movement of suspects.

They said that high alert was declared at the border and security was beefed up at all checkposts along the Peshawar Torkham Highway.

An ailing Afghan woman, suffering from heart disease, died of cardiac arrest at Torkham border on Thursday.

Officials said that the elderly woman could not survive the heart attack right at the border crossing while sitting on a wheelchair. Her relatives said that they wanted to take her to Peshawar for treatment but she breathed her last half way to the hospital.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2018