KHYBER: Custom clearing agents and traders have expressed serious reservations over the continuous blockade of Peshawar-Torkham Highway by Kukikhel protesters, saying it is inflicting losses on them to the tune of millions of rupees on daily basis.

Addressing a press conference in Torkham on Monday, Custom Clearing Agents Association president Aimal Shinwari said that closure of highway multiplied their financial woes as hundreds of vehicles loaded with perishable food items were stranded on the road with no immediate relief in sight.

Flanked by his vice president Shah Jehan and transporters union president Azeemullah Shinwari, he suggested to Kukikhel protesters to change the location of their protest as closure of road at Bhagiyarree adversely affected bilateral trade with Afghanistan along with confronting the residents of Landi Kotal with shortage of essential daily use commodities.

Mr Shinwari said that though they expressed their wholehearted solidarity with Kukikhel tribesmen, the mode of protest they had adopted was affecting common people instead of pressurising authorities to accept their demands.

He said that Kukikhels should establish their protest camp in Peshawar in front of the official and security installations rather than blocking the road leading to Torkham. He said that the alternate Shalman-Malagori road was lengthy and not fully secure along with its bad condition, which was detrimental for use by heavy vehicles.

Mr Shinwari demanded of army chief, federal interior minister and trade minister to help resolve the issue of return of Kukikhel displaced families and reopen the road to Torkham.

Meanwhile, elders of Shinwari and Shalman tribes have offered mediation between the government authorities and Kukikhel protesters to help resolve the IDPs issue and reopen Torkham highway. They said that the continuous closure caused shortage of edibles and petroleum products both in Torkham and Landi Kotal.

They said that Kukikhels themselves enjoyed the liberty to continue with their routine life and movement to all desired locations, the protest camp at Bhagiyarree checkpost handicapped the residents of Landi Kotal with the protesters adamant to show any leniency for them.

The closure of road has also generated a debate on social media platforms. Some social media users call it a ‘just struggle’ for resolution of the issue of repatriation of Kukikhel displaced families. Others term closure of road an ‘unjust’ act.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2024