Visit of police officials stirs forceful protests in Khyber

Published October 31, 2018
DSP Hayatabad circle Rahim Hussain Khan had to take refuge in the offices of local administration in Jamrud.— File
DSP Hayatabad circle Rahim Hussain Khan had to take refuge in the offices of local administration in Jamrud.— File

LANDI KOTAL: The enraged tribesmen besieged the offices of local administration in Jamrud and blocked Peshawar-Torkham Highway for over three hours to register their protest against the visit of police officials to Khyber tribal district on Tuesday. DSP Hayatabad circle Rahim Hussain Khan had to take refuge in the offices of local administration in Jamrud when the angry protesters forced their entry into the premises and started kicking and knocking at the doors of office of local tehsildar.

A heavy contingent of Khasadar and Levies escorted DSP Rahim Hussain Khan to his official vehicle amid vociferous sloganeering by the protesting tribesmen. Some of them also resorted to pelting the vehicle of police official with stones while he drove out of the official premises and Khasadar and Levies personnel helplessly tried to prevent them. Assistant Commissioner Salim Marwat also tried to pacify the angry protesters and sought the help of some proadministration elders to bring the situation under control.

The protesters then converged at the historic Bab-i- Khyber and blocked the main highway while chanting slogans against the government plan of extending police law to the tribal districts.

A similar protest was also held in Takia locality of Landi Kotal where another group of angry tribesmen blocked the road by placing large stones on it. The protest was organised against the visit of a SSP Kashif Khan to Landi Kotal.

Local officials said that Peshawar police officials were visiting the region to discuss possibilities of extension of Police Act and to identify locations for police stations in both Jamrud and Landi Kotal. Malak Abdur Razak, an elder of Zakhakhel tribe, told Dawn that they would not allow establishment of police posts and deployment of police in tribal districts till the government provided all the basic facilities of life at the pattern of major cities of the country to the dwellers of militancy-affected tribal regions.

Meanwhile, scores of labourers and porters again held a protest at Torkham against the attitude of National Logistic staff with them at the border crossing.

The protesters ransacked the offices of NLC and chanted slogans against its staff. They damaged the close circuit cameras and air conditioners installed at the NLC offices besides uprooting the sign boards. Sensing danger, the NLC staff had to take refuge in other nearby government buildings.

The protesters said that the border security officials and immigration staff had only on Monday exempted them from acquiring visa for their cross-border movement but the NLC staff again denied them going to Afghanistan and coming back to Pakistan without visa and passport.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Out of control
Updated 19 Feb, 2025

Out of control

AS bodies continue to fall in Kurram despite a state-sanctioned ceasefire, one wonders how long local militants’...
Hollow words
19 Feb, 2025

Hollow words

IT is not uncommon for politicians to resort to the use of hyperbole in order to boost their public standing. ...
Migration matters
19 Feb, 2025

Migration matters

THE grass, it seems, did appear greener on the other side to millions of people as evidenced by the latest UN ...
Cholistan project
Updated 18 Feb, 2025

Cholistan project

GPI goals align with Pakistan's broader economic aims but the manner in which the initiative was launched raises questions.
Right to know
18 Feb, 2025

Right to know

IT is an unfortunate paradox that while on paper Pakistan has some of the most impressive right to information laws,...
Dam dispute
18 Feb, 2025

Dam dispute

THE situation in Chilas needs attention and a fair-minded approach so that it can be resolved amicably. Diamer ...