KHYBER: The Khugakhel sub-tribe of Landi Kotal has demanded of the National Logistic Cell (NLC) authorities to implement the actual agreement about construction of a custom terminal at Torkham and vacate the extra land they have occupied ‘unlawfully’.

Scores of Khugakhel tribesmen gathered at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landi Kotal on Monday to ask the authorities to accept their demands.

Speaking on the occasion, Khugakhel elder Mufti Ejaz accused the NLC of trespassing over the agreed 300-kanal of land they had pledged through a written agreement for construction of a custom terminal. Demanding an immediate vacation of their extra land, he called for the resolution of the issue through dialogue while abiding by the actual agreement.

Barkatullah, another local leader, demanded demarcation of the 300-kanal so that the rest of the unlawfully occupied land could be retrieved without any further delay.

He warned of forcibly obstructing the construction of the custom terminal at Torkham if their demands were not met till March 12.

Meanwhile, the Kukikhel elders in Jamrud on Monday demanded reinstatement of sacked polio workers and release of their salaries.

Addressing a press conference, Kukikhel elders Malak Pervaiz, Malak Noor Maraz, Malak Mohammad Ameen and Eshfaq Afridi said that polio workers performed their duty in unfavourable conditions while some of them lost their lives in attacks by militants few years ago. They said that the health authorities sacked those dedicated workers without citing any valid reason for relieving them from their responsibilities.

“Most of these workers were young and had volunteered for carrying out dangerous jobs despite threats from militants,” they said and added that all of them were faced with financial problems due to suspension of their salaries.

Also, a two-year-old boy drowned in an underground water tank in Kamarkhel area of Bara on Monday.

Sources said that the boy slipped into the tank while playing nearby. His mother tried to save his life but could not succeed, they added.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2021