The ongoing land acquisition dispute for the advanced customs terminal at the Pak-Afghan border at Torkham continues to create tension as construction progresses, aiming for completion by the end of the year.
Elders of the Khuga Khel tribe claim that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), with whom they initially signed an agreement to provide over 300 kanals of their communal land near the Torkham border for the terminal’s construction, modified the design and unlawfully took over 400 additional kanals without their consent.
The tribal elders have directed their frustrations at the National Logistic Cell (NLC), as it was awarded the contract and is responsible for executing the construction plan.
Mufti Ejaz, a spokesperson for the aggrieved Khuga Khel tribesmen and a senior JUI-F leader, stated that they were never consulted about the customs terminal’s revised plan or the subsequent encroachment of over 400 additional kanals of land.
He clarified that the Khuga Khel tribe and Khyber district residents are not opposed to the terminal’s construction. It would create much-needed employment opportunities for locals and boost bilateral trade with Afghanistan. However, they demand fair treatment regarding acquiring any additional land for the project.
The Khuga Khel tribe members threatened to forcibly halt the terminal’s construction during a protest rally on March 12 if their concerns were not addressed within a week. However, they failed to gather the necessary support to carry out their threat after the deadline and instead opted for a negotiated resolution.
Nisar Ahmad, a Khuga Khel elder and member of the nine-member negotiation committee, told the local newspaper Dawn that the issue had been resolved and any criticism or reservations about the revised agreement with the government were unwarranted and of “no significance.”
Abdul Aziz Khattak, the NLC’s general manager in Torkham, stated that no Khuga Khel land would be occupied or used for the terminal’s construction without legal authorization. According to NLC’s information, he also said there was a difference of about 16 kanals of land after the revised agreement was signed, which would be resolved with revised rates in due time.
With FBR’s assistance, Khattak assured that the NLC would conduct the terminal’s final measurement upon its completion by the end of the year, inviting all stakeholders, including Khuga Khel elders, to view the actual size of the terminal premises.
