PTI govt to make drug test mandatory for teachers, students in Islamabad

Shehryar Afridi says no drug peddler will be spared even if he or she is an MNA

ISLAMABAD: The government plans to make drug tests mandatory for school staff and students in Islamabad, Minister of State for Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi told a Senate panel on Thursday.

In a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Narcotics Control, Afridi asserted that no person responsible for propagating drugs to the youth would be spared even if they are members of the parliament. He further claimed that the government is working on legislation to punish the possession and distribution of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as crystal meth or ice.

Secretary Narcotics Control Amjad Javed Saleemi informed the Senate committee that a record was being maintained of criminal entities involved in the narcotics trade. He added that the system helps track drug peddlers and their facilitators.

The minister added that the ministry had collected data of “drug dealers and money launderers” from over 250 international law enforcement agencies.

He also claimed that former Interpol president Ronald Robin and the United Arab Emirates authorities were seeking Pakistan’s help on the matter.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) minister lamented at the attention given to Rana Sanaullah’s arrest when authorities had detained over 2,000 suspects over narcotics trade. He insisted that the anti-narcotics team followed Sanaullah for three weeks before arresting him.