Fingerprinting of women at border upsets men

DI KHAN:

Tribespeople are incensed over new travel conditions imposed at the border town of Birmal, better known as Angoor Adda border crossing, in South Waziristan. They have especially taken exception to the fingerprinting of women, saying the exercise goes against tribal customs.

In any case, people going and coming from the border with Afghanistan are body searched and have their CNICs checked. Now, the introduction of fingerprinting has ruffled local feathers.

“We are annoyed by the fingerprinting of women as it goes against our customs and traditions,” Azizullah, a local elder told The Express Tribune.

A jirga matter

“A jirga of locals will be convened to convey our concerns to senior government officials and we will demand an end to the fingerprinting of women,” added the elder. “It is a disgrace as the process is conducted by male security personnel at the border gate,” Azizullah added.

The fingerprinting of women has worried locals as it is the first time they are faced with such matters,” said a journalist from the area. “The government should find a viable solution to the issue,” he added.

Beyond borders

Birmal spreads on both sides of the Durand Line and majority of the inhabitants belong to the Ahmadzai-Wazir tribe. For long, they have been crossing the border between the neighbouring countries without travel documents. The tribespeople living on both sides of the border are blood relatives; they maintain socioeconomic ties and interaction on a daily basis.

People on the Afghan side cross the border in the morning and go back by evening. Even the schools of some children in the neighbouring country fall on the Pakistan side as does a graveyard.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th,  2016.