Labourers held a protest demonstration against custom officials at the Torkham Border on Saturday.
A large number of local labourers, daily-wage workers, in collaboration with Nujawanan-e-Qabail, held the protest demonstration. The protesters held placards displaying slogans in favour of their demands. They gathered outside the Torkham Taxi Stand and chanted slogans against the new restrictions imposed by the Torkham Custom House.
Addressing to the protesters, labour leaders Aftab Khan, Israr Shinwari and others said that the custom department had started imposing unnecessary restrictions at the border. “Thousands of labourers have been without work due to these restrictions,” they said.
“Previously, labourers were allowed to shift merchandise at both sides of the border. The fresh restrictions implemented by the custom officials have deprived us of our livelihood,” they said.
They said that the people of the area had suffered from terrorism. “The government should policies to encourage economic activities in the area,” they said.
The protesters demanded that the custom department revise its policies. “Otherwise, we will stage a sit-in at the border,” the protesters said.
