KHYBER: A recent spike in incidents of theft and robbery at Torkham border has caused a sense of insecurity among local transporters, traders and residents after the withdrawal of local police from the region.

Sources at Torkham told Dawn that the situation deteriorated after local police were withdrawn from the border and their checkposts were also abolished on June 2.

Local traders said that thieves burgled at least three shops and took away valuables with them at night a few days ago. Similar complaints were also made by transporters, who alleged that commercial goods were stolen from their loaded vehicles after export of items was allowed to Afghanistan in early May.

The transporters complained about poor traffic management by National Logistic Cell staff after the withdrawal of local police from the border crossing point where they previously performed the responsibility of managing traffic and providing security to loaded vehicles.

Traders, transporters complain about sense of insecurity

Torkham Transporters Union president Azeemullah Shinwari told Dawn that hundreds of vehicles loaded with costly export goods were parked at the export terminal without any protection and security.

He said that withdrawal of local police and refusal of NLC staff to shoulder the responsibility of providing security to loaded vehicles created a sense of insecurity among transporters and exporters.

Mirajuddin, a representative of local custom clearing agents, said that traffic congestion and road blockade had become a routine at Torkham after withdrawal of local police.

The residents of Bacha Maina, a locality close to the border, also expressed their feelings of insecurity after the abolition of police checkposts and offices. Now they have to travel to Landi Kotal for registration of a complaint with police about any local issue or a personal grievance.

DPO Dr Mohammad Iqbal, when contacted, said that police were withdrawn from the custom terminal as vehicular regulation and traffic management were responsibilities of the terminal operators.

He said that police would continue to manage traffic on the main Peshawar-Torkham Highway up to Shaheed Mor near the border crossing but would not interfere in the terminal affairs.

The DPO said that police were also the target of an organised campaign by some elements for alleged involvement of his force in corruption near the border crossing.

“These allegations earned us a bad name and we could not take the blame any longer,” he said. However, he said that police would entertain complaints of people residing near the border point.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2020