Against the FC: Drivers protest tough checks on Torkham

LANDIKOTAL: Drivers of passenger vehicles and residents of Landikotal held a protest against the personnel of the Frontier Constabulary on Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Torkham on Sunday for not allowing passengers beyond the terminal. Owners of Qaum Terminal, Khwaja Khel, Farzand Shinwari and Rahim Gul Shinwari, said the FC personnel stop the vehicles a few kilometres from Torkham terminal. The drivers of passenger vans demanded ease in security checking. The protesters said patients from Afghanistan travel to Pakistan through the route, but the FC personnel do not let them go further due to a lack of valid documents. The ambulances were said to be stopped and asked to return – a long queue of vehicles could be seen along the route due to checking at the same spot. It was said those who live in tribal areas of Khyber Agency were not even allowed to cross the area in cases when they do not have their national identity card.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th,  2016.