Capital city police needs to curb drug trade and gun culture

PESHAWAR: Curbing ice (methamphetamine) trade and the growing gun culture should be top priorities for the capital city police, as new officers have recently assumed charge.

The capital city police appointed a new Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, Masood Ahmad Bangash, while several SPs also took charge last month. The new SSP previously served as the District Police Officer in Charsadda, where he took action against drug dealers.

Peshawar has witnessed a rise in street crimes over the past few years, and these officers are now tasked with addressing the growing issues. The police claim to have busted gangs involved in street crimes, but many still operate, looting people and posing a threat to public safety. Numerous people have been shot by violent street criminals in recent incidents.

One of the contributing factors to the increase in street crimes is ice addiction. Cutting off the supply routes for drugs and their raw materials is critical to stopping the growing number of ice and heroin addicts.

While some efforts have been made to rehabilitate drug addicts, a long-term and permanent solution to this problem remains essential.Addressing corruption within the police force, and ensuring the posting of competent and honest officers as sub-divisional police officers and station house officers based purely on merit, has historically helped improve law and order in Peshawar.

More proactive and effective actions are needed against the mafias involved in the sale of ice and other drugs, land grabbing, extortion, usury, and the display of arms to spread terror. These mafias have grown stronger in recent years due to a lack of decisive action against them.

The most prominent mafias are those involved in drugs, especially the ice business, and land grabbing. Many groups are seen brandishing weapons in public to spread fear and later use them for property grabs.

Instead of relying on official figures, which are often inaccurate, the capital city police officer and his deputies must gather first-hand information about the real situation in urban, suburban, and rural areas. There have been longstanding complaints that most incidents of snatching, robberies, theft, and kidnapping are not reported by the police, in an attempt to make it appear that all is well in their jurisdiction.

The registration of FIRs for crimes that directly affect the common man is the public’s right and will help discourage gangs from operating in an area due to fear of police action.