LANDI KOTAL: The agitating transporters resorted to drum beating here on Tuesday to have their voice heard against imposition of travel restrictions on them at Torkham border.

Chanting full throated slogans of `Passport Visa Namanzoor` in rhythm with beating of several drums, the transporters came to Bacha Khan Chowk in Landi Kotal from Takia in Sultankhel area in a vehicular procession, where most of them have parked their loaded vehicles.

Speaking on the occasion, Yousaf Afridi, a representative of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata Transporters Union, said that the novel way of beating drums was adopted to send a `wake-up` call to the policymakers of the country.

He said that never in the history of Pakistan and Afghanistan the local transporters were subjected to such a harsh travel restrictions.

He said that people living on both sides of the border had historical and traditional immunity from possessing legal travel documents.

Mr Afridi said that all transporter unions were in favour of a strict border management policy to stop suspected terrorists from entering Pakistan.

`We will support every effort of the government to end terrorism in the country but would demand special relaxation for local transporters and traders to cross the border freely,` he added.

Mr Afridi said that every transporter and trader possessed National Identity Card along with route permits and Customs clearing permits issued to them by the relevant government departments.

He offered to hold talks with the officials concerned on the issues of relaxation in the travel rules and permission to the transporters to take their already loaded consignments to Afghanistan on documents of their identification they currently possessed.

Shakir Afridi, another representative of transporters, threatened to halt transportation of goods in the entire country if their demand about relaxation in travel restrictions was not accepted till March 30.

Mirajuddin, The chairman of Torkham Customs Clearing Agents Association, said on the occasion that his association would also stop clearing of all types of goods to Afghanistan to express solidarity with the transporters.-lbrahim Shinwari