Author: Sudhir Ahmad Afridi

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Protesters in Khyber have warned that the continued closure of the Torkham border is causing severe economic hardship, with transport workers saying families are struggling to afford basic necessities as hundreds of Pakistani drivers remain stranded in Afghanistan. A demonstration was held at Khair Teka on the Peshawar–Torkham highway in Landi Kotal, where affected transporters gathered to demand the immediate return of drivers, trucks and goods stuck across the border following its prolonged shutdown. Speakers at the sit-in, including transport representatives Rahman Zai Afridi, Azimullah Shinwari and Bakhtiar Khan, said Pakistani drivers had been stranded…

By Sudhir Ahmad KHYBER: A key meeting of leaders from all political parties was held at Masjid Quba in Landi Kotal, a tehsil of Khyber district, to discuss the closure of the Torkham border. Participants examined in detail the difficulties faced by the public, traders, labourers and those associated with the transport sector as a result of the border closure. After the meeting, Mufti Muhammad Ejaz Shinwari issued a joint declaration. According to the statement, a joint press conference against the closure of the Torkham border was scheduled for Wednesday at 10am at Bacha Khan Chowk in Landi Kotal Bazaar.…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: The FATA Loya Jirga has described the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a decision imposed on tribal communities without their consent, saying the move has left the tribal districts facing serious problems and deprivation. The remarks were made at a press conference at the District Press Club Khyber by Jirga chairman Khan Marjan, president Malik Bismillah Khan Afridi, general secretary Azam Khan Mehsud and other leaders including Tahmash Shalmani. They said the merger of former FATA through the 25th Constitutional Amendment was carried out without consultation with tribal…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Government employees, teachers and staff from various departments staged a protest in Landi Kotal on the call of the All Government Employees Grand Alliance Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding resolution of their longstanding issues. The protesters carried banners and placards inscribed with slogans in support of workers’ rights. Speakers said government employees were facing severe financial difficulties amid rising inflation, adding that an immediate increase in salaries and allowances had become unavoidable. They demanded that the house rent allowance be revised according to 2026 rates instead of the 2008 structure, that the disparity allowance be increased in…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Teachers’ organisations held a joint press conference at the Bara District Press Club and strongly condemned the killing of schoolteacher Musafir Shah, who was shot dead at a school gate in Bar Qambar Khel Jan Khan Kalay a day earlier. Speaking at the press conference, Nasir Shah Afridi, president of the All Teachers Association Khyber, Shahid Gul of the Young Teachers Association, Hafeezullah Amin of Malgari Ustazan Khyber, and Malik Nadar Shah of Tanzeem-e-Asatiza Khyber, along with other teachers, said Musafir Shah had been a humble, dedicated and sincere teacher with no personal enmity. They…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Hashim Khan Afridi, president of the Bara Political Alliance, said a peace march would be held against rising insecurity, as he accused the government and institutions of failing to restore law and order in Khyber district. Speaking at a press conference at the District Press Club Khyber along with his associates, he said the law and order situation in the district, particularly in Bara tehsil, had been deteriorating day by day, while the provincial and federal governments and security institutions appeared unable to ensure peace. He said growing insecurity, targeted killings and an atmosphere of…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: JUI-F leaders criticised the closure of the Pak-Afghan Torkham border, rising unemployment and the treatment of Afghan refugees, calling the situation unacceptable. Addressing a press conference in Landi Kotal, JUI-F FATA senior vice emir Mufti Ejaz Shinwari said flawed federal policies and poor implementation by the provincial government had damaged decades-old ties, warning of serious consequences. He said the border closure had increased unemployment, inflation and insecurity in Khyber district, while people on both sides were facing severe difficulties. The leaders demanded that trade be separated from politics and the border be reopened immediately to…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Faisal Karim Kundi visited the Afghan refugee transit camp in Landi Kotal and reviewed facilities being provided to those awaiting repatriation. During the visit, officials including representatives of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, National Database and Registration Authority, Federal Investigation Agency, customs authorities, the deputy commissioner of Khyber and Rescue 1122 briefed the governor on arrangements at the site. Officials said special measures had been put in place at the Landi Kotal transit point to ensure the dignified return of Afghan refugees, adding that thousands were crossing back into Afghanistan each day through the Torkham…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi KHYBER: Aur Din Mehsud, president of the Tribal Union of Journalists, condemned in strong terms the reported harassment of journalists during coverage of a protest in Bara, calling it an open attack on press freedom. Speaking on the incident, Mehsud described the actions of Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel — including brandishing firearms, assaulting journalists, damaging their vehicle, and detaining them — as illegal and a serious attempt to prevent journalists from performing their professional duties. He stressed that journalists are the eyes and ears of society, and such treatment is unacceptable. The union expressed full solidarity…

By Sudhir Ahmad Afridi LANDI KOTAL: The District Press Club Khyber has convened an emergency meeting after senior journalist Farhad Shinwari allegedly received threats from organised human smuggling networks following his investigative reporting. According to a statement issued by Press Club President Aman Ali Shinwari and General Secretary Hijrat Ali Afridi, the meeting will be held on Tuesday to discuss the threats and the use of abusive language against the journalist on social media. They said Shinwari’s investigative reports had exposed organised human smuggling allegedly being carried out under the cover of sports activities. The officials stated that Shinwari had…