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. Political leaders, elders, customs clearing agents, traders, labourers and individuals from different schools of thought were expected to attend.
The statement added that another joint jirga would be held next Sunday involving leaders of all political parties, elders, traders and customs clearing agents from the tehsils of Bara, Jamrud and Landi Kotal in Khyber district, where a future course of action would be announced.
Political and tribal leaders who attended the meeting called on senior government officials to immediately reopen the Torkham border for trade activities so that the public could receive relief and their difficulties could be reduced.
Those present at the meeting included Mufti Muhammad Ejaz Shinwari, Maulana Shoaib Qadri, Murad Hussain Afridi, Mirajuddin Shinwari, Mujeeb Shinwari, Maulana Aqib Afridi, national elder and political leader Malik Syed Ghajan Afridi, Qari Jehad Shah Afridi, Qari Aziz Shinwari, Faizullah Shinwari and Qari Azeem Shah, along with other leaders.
