SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: Wazir tribesmen demonstrated at Angoor Adda along the Pak-Afghan border in Lower South Waziristan district on Wednesday to demand reopening of the crossing point.

The protesters also demanded exemption from the one-document regime, which has rendered people jobless and halted trade activities over the past 14 months.

A large number of people from different walks of life participated in the protest.

The protesters emphasised that the suspension of trade activities at the border point had created food shortages and restricted people’s access to their homes and schools on either side of the crossing.

Maulana Tasbihullah Wazir, who led the protest, demanded that the government exempt all holders of Pakistani national identity cards from visa and passport requirement. He also called for the introduction of an e-pass facility to facilitate cross-border movement.

The protesters asserted that they would not compromise on their rights under any circumstances and would go to any extent to get their legitimate demands met.

They demanded that the federal government address their demands without delay, warning they would be forced to protest strongly if their demands were not met.

The protesters also called for the restoration of two-way trade and employment opportunities at the Angoor Adda border to support the local economy.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2024