K-P to set up special drug courts

PHC to decide jurisdiction, power of these courts

PESHAWAR:

To combat the menace of drug abuse and trafficking of narcotics, the provincial government has decided to set up special drug courts in the province.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) in a statement on Saturday said it has consulted the Peshawar High Court (PHC) in this regard which would decide the jurisdiction and power of these courts and procedure for their establishment. The PHC could authorise sessions judges and additional sessions judges for hearing such cases.

Under the law prepared by the provincial government, an accused in drugs related cases would not get bail until it has been approved by the special drug courts against surety bonds.

Government would also approve the establishment of excise police station or few police stations in the province would be authorised to deal such cases. These would be called excise police stations and will be headed by excise officials.

The statement read that all drugs related actions taken by police since September 4, 2019 would be dealt under the said law.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2020.