Conviction rate for drug cases drop in Punjab

Report highlights critical deficiencies in justice system

LAHORE:

The conviction rates under the Control of Narcotics Substances Act (1997) in Punjab have dramatically declined, falling from 16% in 2022 to just 2% in 2023.

Major cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and Multan have also experienced this downward trend, prompting urgent calls for enhanced state interventions.

This alarming statistic was revealed in a report titled "Prevalence of Drug Abuse in Pakistan: An Overview of Criminal Justice System’s Response to Drug Traffickers in Punjab," prepared by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO).

The report highlighted significant deficiencies in both the investigation and prosecution processes.

In response to these findings, the Punjab government has appointed specialised investigation officers and prosecutors and has recommended training and certification from globally accredited institutions.

The report underscores the escalating issue of drug abuse and the inadequacies of Punjab's criminal justice system in effectively combating drug trafficking.

It calls for substantial reforms and improvements to address these challenges.

The research also indicated a dramatic global increase in drug users, rising from 240 million in 2011 to 296 million in 2021, which reflects the expansion of the global drug economy.

Pakistan, due to its proximity to Afghanistan, the largest producer of illicit opium, faces significant drug-related challenges.

A 2013 UNODC report revealed that approximately 6.7 million people in Pakistan used controlled substances, including prescription drugs, in 2012.

To address these issues, SSDO has proposed several policy recommendations. These include establishing dedicated courts for drug trafficking cases staffed by internationally trained personnel, aligning evidence collection and adjudication processes with international standards, and collaborating with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the US Department of State and UNODC for training and certification.

SSDO also suggests implementing public education programs on drug use prevention, introducing school-based prevention programs, improving access to rehabilitation services, and encouraging ongoing research and data collection on drug use patterns to inform policy development.

Executive Director Syed Kausar Abbas emphasized SSDO's commitment to promoting social development and policy advocacy in Pakistan, focusing on key issues such as the prevalence of drug abuse and trafficking, human trafficking, and protecting citizens, especially marginalised communities, from becoming victims of organised crime.

 

In major cities across Punjab, data on cases registered under the Control of Narcotics Substances Act (CNSA) (1997) for Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and Multan reveal a significant decline in conviction rates in 2023 compared to 2022.

The conviction rates dropped from 8% to less than 1% in Lahore, 16% to less than 1% in Gujranwala, 17% to 3.5% in Rawalpindi, 8% to 2.5% in Faisalabad, and 3% to 1% in Multan.

In 2022, Punjab saw 12,892 cases registered under the CNSA (1997), involving 13,946 accused individuals.

Of these, 2,080 were convicted, resulting in a 16% conviction rate. However, in 2023, the number of cases rose to 16,839, with 16,403 accused individuals, but only 437 were convicted, translating to a mere 2% conviction rate.

This significant drop indicates severe deficiencies in the investigation and prosecution processes, which benefit the accused, allowing them to evade the consequences typically associated with drug trafficking.

The report by the Sustainable Social Development Organization (SSDO) highlights these alarming statistics, indicating that the criminal justice system in Punjab is struggling to effectively combat drug trafficking.

It underscores the urgent need for reforms to address these growing challenges.

The global number of drug users has been steadily increasing, rising from 240 million in 2011 to 296 million in 2021, according to the World Drug Report (WDR) 2023. This growth is accompanied by an expansion in the global drug economy. For instance, in 2008, the value of heroin trafficked through Iran and Central Asian states was estimated at $33 billion, while the value of cocaine trafficked to North America and the European Union during the same period was estimated at $88 billion, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Governments worldwide are grappling with various challenges, including the expanding drug markets in terms of both harm and scope, the use of social media platforms for illicit drug transactions, and the localized manufacturing of cheap and easily accessible synthetic drugs.

Pakistan's proximity to Afghanistan, the world's largest producer of illicit opium, makes it particularly vulnerable to various drug-related challenges. The UNODC Report (2013) revealed that approximately 6.7 million people in Pakistan had used some form of controlled substance, including prescription drugs, in 2012.

The SSDO's report emphasizes the need for significant reforms and improvements in Punjab's criminal justice system to address the rising issue of drug abuse. It recommends appointing specialized investigation officers and prosecutors, training and certification from globally accredited institutions, and establishing dedicated courts for drug trafficking cases staffed by internationally trained personnel. It also suggests aligning evidence collection and adjudication processes with international standards and collaborating with the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and UNODC for training and certification.

Furthermore, the SSDO advocates for public education programs on drug use prevention, school-based prevention programs, improved access to rehabilitation services, and ongoing research and data collection on drug use patterns to inform policy development.

The declining conviction rates under the CNSA (1997) in Punjab's major cities highlight the urgent need for enhanced state interventions and reforms to combat the growing drug trafficking issue effectively.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30th, 2024.