Crystal meth rules Peshawar’s streets

The potent drug is being sold and used openly with impunity as law enforcement agencies are silent spectators

PESHAWAR:

Along with the terrorism conundrum, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) capital also seems to be struggling to address a rising drugs problem, as locally made methamphetamine is being sold unabatedly.

As per well-placed sources within the Peshawar Police, law enforcement agencies have failed to curb the production of crystal methamphetamine, commonly referred to as ice, from areas such as Ring Road, Dilak Rak Road, Qasim Qalay, Lala Kalay, Budhni, Rano Garhi, Wadpagga, and Chamkani. Furthermore, the police have also failed to curb the sales of the potent central nervous stimulant from areas such as Mohalla Baqir Shah, Yakatoot, Chunabhatti, Haider Colony, Gulbahar, Hayatbad, and Gulberg, according to the sources. Consequently, residents of Peshawar are fed up and want strict action against both the drug’s peddlers and users.

“We moved from Kohat to Peshawar for our children’s future but when we see drugs being sold and used openly with impunity, we feel like we made the wrong choice,” said a distressed resident from the Gulbahar area. Similarly, Tariq, a resident of the Jameel Chowk area, informed that because there are many houses in his locality which produce ice, his brother got exposed to the drug and now their entire family is struggling.

“My brother is a 31-year-old associated with the education sector but ever since he got hooked onto crystal meth he has become a shadow of his former self,” a visibly upset Tariq confided to The Express Tribune. “We have spent thousands for his rehabilitation but he cannot quit the drug. My brother’s life being ruined is the police’s fault, which has failed to root out this dangerous drug from Peshawar.” Another resident of the city, who requested anonymity, concurred with Tariq’s assessment.

“My 27-year-old son recently came back from the United States after completing his education. Due to the open sale and usage of the drug near our area, he got exposed to it and now he is an avid user,” she said, adding that the Peshawar Police was complicit in ruining her son’s life. The Express Tribune shared the mother’s grievance with CCPO Peshawar, Muhammad Ijaz Khan, who said that he was aware of the drug’s prevalence and the department was doing everything in its power to curb sales and usage.The Inspector General (IG) K-P Police, Akhtar Hayat Khan, was also asked about the police’s failure to curb the sales and usage of meth with impunity.

“We have been occupied with terror related incidents and therefore have not been effectively able to police the drug’s peddlers and users,” conceded the IG. “The unabated spread of ice in Peshawar is indeed a challenge and we will conduct operations against it and punish all those involved in its production,” he added. While it remains to be seen when Peshawar Police will actually conduct the operations, Dr Khalid Mufti, a psychiatrist, said that the only effective rehabilitation efforts could help those addicted to the drug.

“Even though the treatment and medication for methamphetamine is expensive, it is the only hope for those addicted to it, otherwise they run the risk of losing their mind forever,” cautioned Dr Mufti while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2023.