WANA: Thousands of tribesmen, including traders, staged a protest demonstration and observed shutterdown strikes in Wana and Angoor Adda bazaars against the closure of Pak-Afghan border in Waziristan by Afghanistan. The protesters led by Sardar Ali Wazir and Saidullah Wazir marched in Wana and Angoor Adda bazaars and chanted slogans to press the Afghan authorities to open the border for trade activities. They were holding banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of trade and business between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Ali said that the Afghan government should respect border management protocol set by the Pakistani government. He said border management was in favour of both countries to block illegal and suspected movement across the border at Angoor Adda in Waziristan. Saidullah Wazir said local traders and businessmen have suffered greatly as their trade was stopped by the Afghan government some two months ago. He said on Afghan authorities closed the border with Pakistan on 20 May for all kinds of mobility, which had cost local traders a loss of billions of rupees. Meanwhile, on the call of trade unions, thousands of local residents and traders observed shutter down strikes in Wana and Angoor Adda bazaars. All the shops and market places in Wana and Angor Adda bazaar remained closed for business to record their protest against the closure of the border by the Afghan government. A political administration official in Wana, on the condition of anonymity, told this scribe that the local traders and shopkeepers had suffered losses amounting to billions of rupees. Later on, after the intervention of the local administration, the traders ended their strike and peacefully dispersed.
