LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Aug 24: Cab drivers blocked the road to the border town of Torkham at Sajamala Chowk here on Wednesday to protest the removal of what the administration said illegal taxi- stands in the Landi Kotal bazaar.
The road remained closed for almost one hour, bringing the traffic flow to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border of Torkham to a complete halt.
A Khasadar force headed by Landi Kotal assistant political agent had to resort to baton charge during a scuffle with the protesting drivers in their bid to clear the road.
The administration also rounded up around 15 protesters and impounded at least 13 vehicles.
Landi Kotal political authorities removed all illegal taxi stands from the premises of Landi Kotal bazaar last week after repeated complaints from the general public and representatives of various political and social organizations.
The administration, in their bid to ease traffic load on the bazaar, had also diverted all heavy traffic to Sajamala bypass after the completion of a narrow turn at that point.
Talking to a delegation of transporters at his office, APA Landi Kotal said that his administration will not allow at any cost taxi stands inside the bazaar.
He, however, told the delegation that a suitable site would be allocated for the three dislocated taxi stands in consultation with local elders.
Pakistan thanked: The governor of Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, Gul Agha Sherzai on Tuesday visited the Torkhum, a border town of Pakistan, and held a meeting with the political authorities of Khyber Agency.
During the meeting, Mr Sherzai thanked the Pakistan government for hosting millions of Afghan refugees on its soil for more than two decades.
Sources quoting Gul Agha Sherzai said that Pakistanis and Afghans had common friends and foes. “We are enjoying lasting relations of brotherhood and also have common traditions and culture”, the sources quoted Mr Sherzai.
“We know that Pakistan and its people remained friendly to their Afghan brethren and we believe that they will also hold the Afghans in the same respect”, Sherzai was quoted.
Later, the Khyber Agency tribesmen presented three sheep to the visiting governor in respect and love for the Afghans.
MAN KILLED: One Sher Khan, a resident of Bajaur Agency, died after he was hit by a speedy coach near the hospital chowk in Landi Kotal bazaar on Tuesday. He breathed his last in hospital.