Drug peddling on the rise in Rawalpindi

Schoolteacher says drug sale goes on unchecked in various parts of garrison city

RAWALPINDI:

The residents of Dhoke Elahi Bukush, Nadeem Colony, Arya Mohallah, Sir Syed Chowk, Chaman Zar and other low-lying areas have urged the quarters concerned to take strict action against rising trend of drug peddling in the area because it is jeopardising the youth risked contracting the menace amid proliferating number of addicts.

Muhammad Arshad, a schoolteacher living in area, said the drug sale and use was going unchecked in various parts of Rawalpindi areas. He said because of a rising number of addicts roaming in the vicinity, Dhoke Elahi Bakhsh emerged on the top areas of the city in illegal trade of narcotics, including heroin and ice, whereas, police and other law enforcement agencies were apparently turning a blind eye to the menace.

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The youth particularly school, college and university students including boys and girls were equally at risk to contract the menace of drug addiction as the buffs could be seen in large numbers injecting drugs to each other, said Nasir Mehmood, a social activist.

Talking to APP, he said despite many complaints raised at the relevant forums, police and other authorities concerned were turning a blind eye to the issue, allegedly ignoring the unbridled drug sale. He alleged that the key players involved in the racket of drug pushing in area were paying monthly bribes to the police department.

Anti-Narcotics Day (ANF) observed International Day against Drug abuse and illicit trafficking on Saturday to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2021.