ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Brig Ijaz Ahmad Shah (retd) on Wednesday said that the anti-narcotics law passed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has barred the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to operate in the province, which resulted in pendency of more than 500 narcotics cases.
The minister, while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Narcotics Control said that a separate anti-narcotics law has been passed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, which is in conflict with the Federal Anti-Narcotics Act.
“Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government through an Act eliminated the role of the ANF in the province,” he said, adding that if the provincial government of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa wants to destroy its youth through the menace of drug then we will withdraw our 300 personnel deputed in various parts of the province.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued directives to resolve this matter within 30 days and asked to propose amendments in the CNS Act, 1997 in order to restore the role of the ANF in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
He told the committee that this is a very powerful forum and if it uses its power properly then we can control drug use in the country.
He asked the committee to play its role and recommended Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to amend its Narcotics Control Act.
However, the committee observed that the matter is sub judice before the Supreme Court; therefore, let the apex court decide it.
The minister said that poppy plant is used to make medicine and many nations plant their own supply for medicinal use but Pakistan import these medicine drugs.
On this, committee chairman Salahuddin Ayubi said that “if a fish is put into liquor, will it be halal?”
At one stage, the minister also said that what steps the government will take to combat drug abuse in a country where basic necessities like sugar, wheat flour and ghee are not available.
The committee which met with Salahuddin Ayubi in the chair decided to meet with the prime minister in order to suggest ways for eradication of narcotics substance in the country through effective legislation.
The parliamentary body expressed serious concern over the spread of narcotics substances, especially in the erstwhile Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA).
Secretary Ministry of Narcotics Control Akbar Hussain Durrani apprised the committee that as per existing operational strength of the ANF 2333, it is almost impossible for them to stop the spread of narcotics substances across the country.
He said that a summery have been moved for recruitment of 10,000 additional force in order to overcome the challenges regarding the frequent increase in use of narcotics substances faced by the ANF.
He told the committee that according to the UNODC report released in 2020, the number of drug addicts have risen to nine million.
There are only four government-run drug rehabilitation centres in the country.
Out of four, one is in Islamabad and three are in Sindh province, he said.
The committee asked the Ministry of Narcotics Control to present a monthly report on the performance and progress of the ANF before the committee along with the complete details of the cases registered against the drugs dealers
The parliamentary committee was of the view that the police department and other law enforcement agencies should play their role to control the use of narcotics substance most efficiently and vibrantly.
The committee recommended that provincial governments must play their role and also allocate sufficient budget for narcotics control in their public sector development programme (PSDP).
The Vice Chancellor, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad Professor Dr Muhammad Ali informed the committee that out of 23 kilometres, 11 kilometre boundary wall has been constructed around the university; however, there are some disputes regarding the land of the university due to which the 700 acres of university land were occupied with unauthorised occupants, which was causing difficulties to control use of drugs.
He further emphasised that most of the huts or eating places existed outside the premises of the university are involved in drugs-related activities; therefore, it is necessary to remove these huts or bring them into the premises of the university.
The meeting was also attended by MNA Gul Dad Khan, Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Nusrat Wahid, Andleeb Abbas, Zulfiqar Ali Bhinder, Shahida Akhter Ali, Mohsin Dawar, and senior officials of the Ministry of Narcotics Control and the ANF.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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