Extortion calls, campus drugs stir concern

Apex committee strategises to combat these dual threats

PESHAWAR:

The third session of the Provincial Apex Committee was convened with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan presiding. During the meeting, the committee addressed several pressing issues, including the repatriation of undocumented foreigners, extortion concerns, and drug-related problems within educational institutions.

The committee reviewed the progress made in implementing decisions taken during the previous session, particularly in combating various forms of illegal activities. This encompassed actions against smuggling, extortion, the use of illegal SIM cards and weapons, hundi transactions, counterfeit documentation, narcotics, and non-customs paid (NCP) vehicles in the province. Key officials from both provincial and federal departments provided comprehensive briefings on their respective efforts to curb illegal activities. The meeting also covered matters related to profiling non-customs paid vehicles and registering madressahs (religious schools).

Read Peshawar tackles extortion threats

The committee emphasized the need for a more effective and coordinated crackdown against illegal activities. To this end, concerned provincial and federal entities were instructed to collaborate closely to ensure more cohesive actions.

In response to rising concerns about extortion, the committee decided to convene a special session solely focused on addressing this issue. The aim is to develop a comprehensive strategy to effectively tackle extortion.

Additionally, the committee stressed the importance of monitoring and combating the supply of narcotics in educational institutions. Authorities resolved to initiate actions against major players involved in the manufacturing and distribution of narcotics. The Anti-Narcotics Force, excise department, and police were directed to formulate a joint strategy to combat this menace. The committee expressed deep gratitude for the sacrifices made by security forces and law enforcement agencies in the fight against terrorism.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 9^th, 2023.