Substance abuse: Haleemzai tribe forms committee to combat sale of drugs

Jirga says no help will be provided to those arrested by political administration

GHALLANAI: The Haleemzai tribe in Ghaibe Khwar announced a ban on the sale and purchase of drugs and formed a six-member committee to combat the menace.

The announcement was made during a jirga held by tribal elders of Haleemzai tehsil in Ghallanai, Mohmand Agency on Saturday. The jirga also decided to impose a fine of Rs0.2 million on those found guilty of selling drugs.

The committee members included Malik Shahi Gul, Malik Nazir, Malik Nadir Khan Adam, Mir Afzal and Malik Amir Dost Khan. The jirga declared that it would not provide any kind of help to those arrested by the political administration over charges of drug possession.

Earlier, the Haleemzai jirga also announced that houses of those who engage in the narcotics trade will be demolished or burnt down.

Tribal elders decried the narcotics trade and said that illicit drugs were a silent killer of the youth. They added that those involved in selling drugs were working against the development of Pakistan’s youngsters.

The elders lamented that tribal areas were known in the world for narcotics after militancy and stressed the need to combat the problem. They were of the view that political administration rendered its support to the organisation by conducting raids against those engaged in drug trafficking. They warned those involved in the narcotics trade that their houses will be burnt down or demolished if they were caught. They will also be banished from the area, the elders concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2016.