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LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Feb 12: Afghan authorities on Sunday allowed about 300 vehicles stranded here because of lack of route permits to enter Afghanistan after negotiations with the Landi Kotal political administration.
Vehicles registered in Pakistan were stopped on the border on Saturday as they had not obtained route permits from Afghanistan’s consulate in Peshawar.
The vehicles, including oil tankers and trucks, were allowed to enter Afghanistan after Afghan officials agreed to ease the rule till Thursday.
PARKING FEE ROW: The administration on Sunday deferred action against a group of transporters for establishing an illegal checkpoint at the Peshawar-Torkham highway after a senator intervened to resolve the matter peacefully.
The so-called Zakir group had established the checkpost at Satra Meel-Sultankhel point on Friday and started collecting toll tax from vehicles.
Sources said that some passengers had also been deprived of their money and the drivers who refused to pay toll tax had been abused and beaten up.
Acting on complaints, the Landi Kotal administration on Sunday cordoned off the road at Charwazgai and Prang Sum points.
Traffic was diverted to the alternate Shalman-Malagori route.
The authorities reportedly sent a warning message to the Zakir group to either vacate the checkpoint or face the action.
Assistant Political Agent Riaz Masood confirmed that a decision was taken at a higher level to forcefully remove the Zakir group from the road. He told Dawn that the group would be penalized for taking law into its hands.
Sources said the Zakhakhel elders sought the help of Khyber Agency Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik to defuse tension.
The senator reportedly secured an assurance from transporters for a resolution of a row over an increase in parking fee at the Torkham coach stand, creating hopes for reconciliation and delaying action by the administration.
