Ephedrine scandal: Narcotics ministry moves to ‘demilitarise’ ANF
Undermining the authority of the superior judiciary, the Ministry of Narcotics Control (MoNC) has not rolled back an office memorandum issued on April 19 to ‘demilitarise’ the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), sources told the Express Investigation Cell.
The memorandum demands of the defence ministry to submit details of all military personnel working with the ANF. “The defence ministry is requested to confirm the date of retirement of Brig Akhtar Mahmood and all other military personnel working in the ANF,” the memorandum said.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed just-replaced MoNC Secretary Zafar Abbas Luk to withdraw his orders pertaining to the ephedrine quota case to help the ANF carry out a fair and transparent investigation. The ministry withdrew its selective orders, including the reinstatement of Brig Akhtar Mahmood and three other members of the investigation team, but decided to go forward with its plan to ‘demilitarise’ the ANF.
When contacted, a defence ministry official told the Express Investigation Cell (EIC) that the MoNC’s office memorandum of April 19 was being processed for necessary action. He said the memorandum has been forwarded to the General Headquarters (GHQ) for further action.
“The defence ministry will go by the rules and regulations in the case and give its reply to the MoNC in due course,” the official said.
According to sources, the MoNC is making a push to replace military personnel in the ANF with police officials. The MoNC letter to the defence ministry is believed to be the first phase towards the implementation of such a plan.
Around 1,500 military personnel are currently working in the ANF on deputation. Since the narcotics force deals with heinous crimes such as illicit drugs trade, military personnel were deemed fit to deal with such criminals. However, after the controversy over the ephedrine quota case blew up, military personnel are now being seen as unruly, as opposed to reliable, for top government posts.
A separate summary sent to the establishment division by the MoNC on April 19 illustrates the degree of resentment over the ephedrine quota case. After Maj General Shakeel Abbasi’s unceremonious exit, Brig Akhtar Mahmood, a key investigator in the ephedrine case, is believed to be next in the line of fire.
The summary reads: “The MoNC does not want Brig Akhtar Mahmood’s services any more as he is a source of unrest and indiscipline in the ANF.”
It goes on to demand the establishment division to repatriate ‘troublemaker’ Brig Akhtar Mahmood to the military with immediate effect. Brig Akhtar Mahmood holds a key role in the ephedrine quota case. He has not succumbed to any pressure and conducted investigations against culprits in the case with full force.
The MoNC did not respond to repeated calls made for its version of the story. Zafar Abbas Luk also did not respond to an email regarding the story.
Alarming trend
The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has reported at least six cases of ephedrine being smuggled from Pakistan into Iran, Iraq and Australia between January 2010 and April 2011. The international drug watchdog is gravely concerned over the alarming trend and has asked Islamabad to strengthen its domestic narcotics control mechanism to prevent slippage of the ephedrine chemical into other countries.
Iran reported the first case of ephedrine smuggling from Pakistan in December 2010. It was followed by two other cases of 394 kg of ephedrine smuggled from Pakistan into Iran. Voicing serious repercussions of ephedrine smuggling, the government authorised the ANF to probe the issue in depth in early 2011.
The investigations established allocation of huge quota of ephedrine to two pharmaceutical companies – M/s Burlex Lab International, Multan and Danas Pharma Islamabad – on political considerations.
Later investigations brought under spotlight the role of a number of government officials in award of the addictive drug quota.
They allegedly played a key role in influencing the directors-general of the ministry of health for allocation of ephedrine quota of 9,000kg to Berlex and Danas pharmaceutical companies.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (16)
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What I take from this step is to sideline the brave "Brigadier" who according to the article itself " has not succumbed to any pressure and conducted investigations against culprits in the case with full force". I don't find any fault with this man, in fact such men should be lauded and presented in the press as national heroes, regardless of if they are from the military.
Those quoting my earlier statement might want to read it carefully, again. Word to word, line by line.
Military shouldn't be where it is now, but it is because of the vacuum left there by the pseudo-political elite.
When seawater starts filling in only because you couldn't be bothered to mend the holes in your old boat, dont go crying hoarse.
@Mirza: MIrza sb! for God sake, this is a serious issue, don't poke your military-Court conspiracy theory everywhere. Why this de-militarisation policy after this specific case? Mala Fide of this so-called democratic Govt.
@Ammad Malik agreed with you bro. people just need an excuse to loath military. cant even praise of the Brig is standing upright against this corruption. Bravo
@Ahsan Mlk:
Are there ANY successful anti narcotics agencies around the world, except perhaps in Iran.
ANF by its own records seizes arund 0.5% of all heroin trafficked through Pakistan (look at the seizures section of their website and match that against records from UNODC's world drug report). At these rates all they do is drive up the costs of heroin in local markets without really denting heroin trade. Who do you think they are working for
@wali baba
Having honour and moral values does not mean 'end justifies the means' - as history shall explain, especially w.r.t. this case.
@Ahsan Mlk
Anti-narcotics and border control have overlapping responsibilities, does not mean they are analogous.
Anyhow, so I assume the DEA (USA) under Michele Marie Leonhart as Administrator, reporting to AG and DAG is military controlled in your mind? Because we are not talking about field operatives and what sort of training they get - certainly, the Generals and Brig. in ANF are not field operatives, or maybe in your mind they are?
Coming to your last point, I think you answered your question yourself, military administrators have been in charge of almost every institution of reasonable importance in Pakistan, yet all of them are in the same or worse state, therefore, it is better for military men to do what they do best: follow orders. Asking them to think is like asking a cat to fly. And yes, the reason no other institution has been able to build capacity, culture and work ethic is because of this frequent intervention.
@Ammad Malik its about 1500 servicemen not Brig and Gen. and Army officers are not taking pays of serving in ANF, they take there pay of army plus deputation allowance of merely four thousand so they are not getting extra employment, or taking right of civilians. In many comments i can only find moral deficits and common sense deficits. At least i stand by the side of those who dared to point fingers at the criminals.they have honour and moral values and i respect them
All civilian institutions are used to provide perks to army officers and they dont offer any advantages so step taken is correct . Although timing is bad due to case against PM son.
@Basit
You might have the facts but probably lack the ability to process them. Brigadiers and Generals are not inducted to use sniper rifles, that's not part of the job description. ANF is not, by design and function, a military or paramilitary outfit. Military background does not provide any advantage, rather, these men prove to be a misfit, and more than often, a nuisance.
That's right, civilians make better 'Yes Men' than ex-military officers. How dare the ANF target the premier's son? They must pay now.
The military is used in ANF because the police recruits were found to be lacking in capabilities when ANF was first setup with UN assistance. The weapons that ANF uses like 50 cal sniper rifle is not something any policeman is ever trained on.
As usual @Mirza fires off his comment without checking facts and all to meet the quota.
About time!
Other ministries particularly foreign affairs, railway, ports and shipping and communications should also purge the numerous departments of military officers and return them to civil bureaucracy.
Military and especially ISI are running a parallel govt against the executive with the backing of SC which has taken the role of Gen Zia and Mush. Army should stay in their camps and protect Pakistan's borders, its primary job. They already have so many perks and giving thousands of civilian jobs to military officials is spreading unemployment among poor civilians. Keep giving to those already loaded is not fair or Islamic.