Customs and Coast Guard’s Unlawful Actions Under the Guise of Inspection Are Economic Massacre of Landowners: Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party
Quetta – In a press release issued by the provincial secretariat of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), the party strongly condemned the illegal and inappropriate actions of Customs, Coast Guard, and other related institutions under the guise of inspection, stating that the unconstitutional, illegal, and unjust practice of piercing trucks loaded with apples, other fruits, and vegetables with iron spikes (rods) — amounting to an economic massacre of landowners — is ongoing.
The statement said that this practice not only destroys fruits and vegetables but also delays their timely arrival at markets in other provinces and districts, causing spoilage, significant price reductions, and bursting of fruit boxes due to the piercing rods, leaving apples and other produce with no buyers in the market — thereby inflicting losses on the landowners of the province. Similarly, the unloading, throwing, and destruction of containers and crates loaded with fruits and vegetables from trucks and Mazda vehicles by Customs, Coast Guard, and other institutions is also continuing.
Agriculture is the lifeline of our people’s livelihood, which has already been devastated by government neglect. Due to flawed government policies, the closure of border trade has already pushed traders and the general public into severe unemployment, inflation, and economic hardship.
The statement said that due to the neglect of the imposed Form 47 provincial government and the corruption, commission, and looting-based actions of various institutions including Customs, landowners, transporters, and our people are facing severe economic losses. Complaints of truck drivers being extorted for thousands of rupees in bribes and being treated with misconduct are regrettable and condemnable, while the Customs’ authority and laws regarding checking domestic fruits moving from one province to another within the country are clear.
The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party makes it clear to the federal and provincial governments and all relevant institutions including Customs that they must immediately abandon actions amounting to the economic massacre of our landowners, transporters, and people, and remove all obstacles hindering the timely access of fruits and vegetables to markets in various districts of the country.
The party also demands that the provincial Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Chief Collector of Customs, and other relevant authorities take immediate notice of this inappropriate and public-hostile practice. Departmental action should be taken against officers and officials involved in corruption, commission, and extortion so that landowners’ losses can be compensated and this reprehensible practice can be stopped.
If this is not implemented, the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, with the support and backing of its people, will join the landowners and farmers in their protest.
