‘Crystal meth addict’ guns down friend

Growing sale of ice in ‘ordinary’ Islamabad sectors worries authorities

ISLAMABAD:

The growing use of crystal meth, famously known as ice, has set off alarm bells in the federal capital once again after the gruesome murder of a youth by a close friend, reported under the influence of the potent drug.

The drug, known as one of the most addictive and deadliest of all illegal drugs, has claimed two lives in Islamabad in the recent past. The sale of this harmful drug to young people is reportedly behind these tragic incidents.

According to police sources, a friendship turned deadly when Ahsan Ullah and Jawad, who shared a close bond, were caught in the grip of the lethal drug ice.

Despite Ahsan Ullah’s efforts to steer Jawad away from this addiction and seek help for him, the situation took a tragic turn. Jawad, consumed by rage and under the influence of ice, fatally attacked Ahsan in G-9 Auto Colony.

Ahsan, employed at PWD, lost his life, while Jawad, reportedly unemployed, fled the scene. The police have initiated a murder case, with Jawad being the primary suspect still at large.

In another distressing incident a couple of years ago, the son of a prominent construction firm owner in Sector F-7, fuelled by excessive ice consumption, committed a horrendous act against a young woman.

This act led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing by a district court.

A senior official from the federal police highlighted the alarming rise of drug addiction, particularly among the youth in upscale sectors of Islamabad. This trend has now spread to ordinary residential areas, posing a significant threat to the well-being of the younger generation already grappling with economic challenges.

Meanwhile, citizens have demanded that law enforcement authorities must devise specialised action plans targeting drug dealers. Establishing secret police units alongside regular stations could help apprehend drug traffickers and protect communities from the devastating impact of drug abuse.

The incidents serve as stark reminders of the urgent need to combat drug addiction and protect lives in the capital city, they said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2024.