Against extortion: Kokikhel tribe’s elders up in arms

JAMRUD: The elders of Kokikhel tribe from Khyber Agency gathered at Jamrud Press Club to discuss the issue of extortionists demanding money on export goods. The elders said the extortionists hail from Khuga Khel in Landikotal, Khyber Agency. The export goods are cleared at the Jamrud NLC Terminal. However, there are people in Khuga Khel and Torkham who extort traders. “The same people had also opposed the establishment of the Border Clearance Terminal at Torkham when it was under construction. And the government changed the location of the terminal from Torkham to Landikotal,” an elder said. The elders including Malik Asmatullah, Haji Waziristan, Haji Arman Shah, Haji Kashmir, Haji Qisam Khan, Behram, Shoaib and others were in attendance. They urged the government to take action against the extortionists and threatened to close the Pak-Afghan Highway if their demands were not met.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th,  2016.