Black sheep: Locals accuse police of abetting cattle smuggling

Elders say prices of animals increase sharply as a result.

PESHAWAR:

The smuggling of cattle to Afghanistan is ongoing for the past two months via Khyber and Mohmand agencies without any disruption from law enforcers, claim locals reeling under the exorbitant prices of sacrificial animals ahead of Eidul Azha.

Most of the trucks smuggling cattle are crossing into Khyber Agency via Warsak, Bara and Jamrud roads. Locals said around 95% of the cattle dealers were transporting cattle at night to avoid being detected. They accused the police of being party to the illegal practice.

The remaining cattle are being shifted to Khyber Agency in herds. After reaching Akka Khel, the animals are transported in trucks to Afghanistan.

“Every night several thousand cattle are shifted to Akka Khel from Sheikhan village alone,” said an elder of the village. He said it was strange locals were fleeing the area to escape militant activities, while cattle dealers were transporting animals without any fear. “Smuggling is a good source of income for militants too, and that is why they encourage people to use their routes for all sorts of smuggling.”

An elder of Sarband village alleged the police takes bribes from truckers, allowing them to continue their trade unabated. “The price of sacrificial animals is sky high due to smuggling to Afghanistan,” he claimed.

The elder said earlier sheep and goats were sent from Afghanistan to Pakistan before Eid, but nowadays there was a severe shortage of these animals in Afghanistan as a result of which the war-torn country was solely dependent on Pakistan.

A police official said they were trying their level best to stop the supply of sacrificial animals to Afghanistan, but contended most of the cattle are being transported legally. “Whenever we intercept a truckload of cattle, they show us permits issued by the federal government and we have to release them,” he said, adding the public considered every truck loaded with sacrificial animals a smuggling attempt.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2013.