KP needs strict laws to deal with ice drug challenge

PESHAWAR: After terrorism and attacks on police, the increasing use of ice drug or methamphetamine is proving to be a major law and order challenge to the new provincial government.

One of the major factors behind an unprecedented increase in incidents of snatching, robberies, theft and acts of violence is the growing number of ice addicts in the society. They are more violent compared to those consuming heroin, hashish or other drugs.

Police investigators say many of those involved in the street crimes were found to be ice addicts. They become violent when they consume the drug and can kill anyone for offering little or even no resistance. Since it is more harmful to society and any individual, ice needs to be treated differently from other drugs.

Apart from special police operations against the producers, suppliers and sellers, the strictest laws should be introduced to punish the mafia.“The police have written to the government on several occasions that strictest laws need to be introduced so those arrested by the police get due punishments,” a senior police official told The News.

He added that hundreds of members of these mafias were arrested by the police in the last few years as they were posing a serious threat to the law and order situation, especially in the urban and suburban areas.

The official said that special operations against ice and other drug dealers were underway in Peshawar and other districts which had led to the busting of a large number of gangs. Police recently arrested two snatchers who attempted to rob two female students in Gulbahar. Officials said one of the criminals was an ice addict while the other one was a grade 9 student at a local school. Apart from street crimes and incidents of shooting the victims during snatching, robbery and other such incidents, these drug addicts are involved in theft cases.

The majority of the theft cases are not reported to the police now as most of the victims are discouraged at the police stations by avoiding FIRs. Many believe that effective fresh laws by the government against ice were needed along with more aggressive actions by police, ANF, Excise Department and other relevant departments against the mafias. The stricter laws will ensure due punishments by the courts after proper investigation and follow-up of cases by the cops.

There are reports of several major gangs, small groups and individuals in the urban and suburban areas of Peshawar and the rest of the districts of KP produce, smuggle and sell ice and other drugs anywhere in cities, villages and suburban towns.

Some gangs are selling drugs in different shapes in the vicinity of the educational institutions to target the younger generations.The easy availability of this synthetic drug that can be manufactured anywhere has resulted in an unprecedented increase in the number of addicts, including youth and even teenagers in the last few years.

Young boys, and in some cases girls, under the influence of drugs were seen in videos that went viral on social media. A large number of addicts including women and children can be seen on footpaths and roadside just opposite Karkhano, Hayatabad, Faqirabad, GT Road, Kohat Road-Ring Road Chowk, Jaba Sohail, Dir Colony, Dilzak Road, Charsadda Road and many other areas.