Sharjeel urges joint action against drug menace

Says drug abuse not confined to Sindh, but part of wider global network operating across borders

KARACHI:

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the provincial government has launched a strict crackdown on drug trafficking and substance abuse, stressing that the issue is a national and global challenge requiring coordinated action from all stakeholders.

Speaking in the Sindh Assembly, he said drug abuse is not confined to Sindh or Pakistan alone, but is part of a wider international network operating across borders. "Sindh and Pakistan belong to all of us, and eliminating drugs is a shared responsibility. It is essential to make Sindh drug-free," he said.

Memon urged lawmakers to treat the fight against drugs as a collective duty. "I have already made it clear on the assembly floor that every member should consider themselves a minister for anti-drug efforts, because this is not just an institutional responsibility but an issue affecting society as a whole, especially the younger generation," he added.

He cited the arrest of Anmol alias Pinky as evidence of the government's seriousness in tackling drug-related networks. He also criticised the opposition leader for raising the issue outside the assembly instead of formally presenting it on the floor of the house.

Referring to proposals for drug testing of lawmakers, Memon said the idea could be considered and that transparency should apply to everyone. However, he cautioned against politicising the matter, saying that naming individuals publicly without due process was inappropriate and could lead to unnecessary character assassination.

"If names start being mentioned, many names could emerge. It is not appropriate to malign individuals publicly," he remarked.

The minister further warned that strict action would be taken against anyone found involved in drug trafficking. He also alleged that names of certain well-known individuals and celebrities had surfaced in related investigations, though he stressed that the government's focus remained on eliminating the menace at its root.

He added that Faryal Talpur had also directed police to take strict action against drug dealers during a meeting held within the assembly premises.

Memon also criticised the parliamentary leader of the MQM-P for politicising the issue, calling the approach regrettable, and reiterated that the government's priority was to curb drug trafficking without political point-scoring.