Aabpara becoming a ‘high’ street shopping area
The market is abuzz with gossip that salesmen to hawkers and tailors to vendors are involved in selling drugs.
Beside the business of hashish, liquor is also available in the market, but not as widely, though one trader has become ‘famous’ for selling liquor.
ISLAMABAD:
After elections rallies brought trade to a standstill, Aabpara market is buzzing again, but not for the right reason. From salesmen to hawkers and tailors to vendors, almost everyone doing business in Aabpara market is involved in selling drugs. But the best quality hashish and opium is the stash the police keep for themselves.
The market --- one of the city’s busiest business centres --- is fast becoming a hotbed for the sale of illegal drugs, which the ‘men in blue’ are not only allowing, but are personally involved in. Where a tailor sells a prepared hashish cigarette for Rs100, cop’s cigarettes sells for Rs50 higher, not because he the ‘boss’, but because the quality of the hash he uses is far higher.
A number of tailors, in connivance with the police, have gotten involved in this business and the practice has continued for the last five years. Initially, the business was confined to tailors as they used to sell to their friends and smoke some themselves on the rooftops of their shops. But gradually, it has become a proper business, with the local police fully facilitating drug sales, said a trader requesting anonymity.
He claimed that the two police officers permanently deputed in the market are providing ready-made joints for Rs150, while most tailors sell them for Rs 100.
Whenever I need a cigarette, I just go to Aabpara. I know that is the best sales point,” said a hashish aficionado.
Beside the business of hashish, liquor is also available in the market, but not as widely, though one trader has become ‘famous’ for selling liquor.
“Hashish is affordable and easily available, but liquor is expensive and has fewer customers,” said another trader. According to other traders, every night, a few tailors who also live in the market area have started smoking up above their shops and nobody can stop them because they have the police’s blessings. “I came to Islamabad in 2007 to work as a tailor. Since then, I have smoked up freely and the police never bothered me,” said a red-eyed tailor requesting anonymity.
Interestingly, despite knowing that the trade has the blessings of the local police, the market union has never protest against the illegal practice. Sources said that neither market union nor prayer leaders of local mosques highlighted the issue.
“I’m surprised the trader’s community always holds protests against troubling issues, but this, they have never taken seriously,” said Muhammad Nazir, a salesman at a local shop.
Qari Ghulam Rasool, prayer leader of Aabpara Mosque, claimed lack of awareness while admitting that it is his duty to raise his voice against the evil and promised to highlight the issue in his Friday sermon. He said the market union never approached him about this illegal practice, but vowed to play his role in eliminating it.
Aabpara Market Traders Welfare Association President Ajmal Baloch claimed he was unaware of the illegal trade in the market. He then blamed the police, saying it is their prime responsibility to keep an eye on the area and arrest drug peddlers. “I have no knowledge about this illegal business but I will investigate myself,” he assured.
Repeated attempts were made to contact Aabpara Police Station House Office Qasim Niazi, but he was unavailable.
Assistant Commissioner (City) Muhammad Ali told The Express Tribune that “very soon”, raids will be conducted to curb the practice. He added that a complete strategy will also be formulated.
Meanwhile, a sweet herbal smell will keep hovering in Aabpara’s air.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2013.
After elections rallies brought trade to a standstill, Aabpara market is buzzing again, but not for the right reason. From salesmen to hawkers and tailors to vendors, almost everyone doing business in Aabpara market is involved in selling drugs. But the best quality hashish and opium is the stash the police keep for themselves.
The market --- one of the city’s busiest business centres --- is fast becoming a hotbed for the sale of illegal drugs, which the ‘men in blue’ are not only allowing, but are personally involved in. Where a tailor sells a prepared hashish cigarette for Rs100, cop’s cigarettes sells for Rs50 higher, not because he the ‘boss’, but because the quality of the hash he uses is far higher.
A number of tailors, in connivance with the police, have gotten involved in this business and the practice has continued for the last five years. Initially, the business was confined to tailors as they used to sell to their friends and smoke some themselves on the rooftops of their shops. But gradually, it has become a proper business, with the local police fully facilitating drug sales, said a trader requesting anonymity.
He claimed that the two police officers permanently deputed in the market are providing ready-made joints for Rs150, while most tailors sell them for Rs 100.
Whenever I need a cigarette, I just go to Aabpara. I know that is the best sales point,” said a hashish aficionado.
Beside the business of hashish, liquor is also available in the market, but not as widely, though one trader has become ‘famous’ for selling liquor.
“Hashish is affordable and easily available, but liquor is expensive and has fewer customers,” said another trader. According to other traders, every night, a few tailors who also live in the market area have started smoking up above their shops and nobody can stop them because they have the police’s blessings. “I came to Islamabad in 2007 to work as a tailor. Since then, I have smoked up freely and the police never bothered me,” said a red-eyed tailor requesting anonymity.
Interestingly, despite knowing that the trade has the blessings of the local police, the market union has never protest against the illegal practice. Sources said that neither market union nor prayer leaders of local mosques highlighted the issue.
“I’m surprised the trader’s community always holds protests against troubling issues, but this, they have never taken seriously,” said Muhammad Nazir, a salesman at a local shop.
Qari Ghulam Rasool, prayer leader of Aabpara Mosque, claimed lack of awareness while admitting that it is his duty to raise his voice against the evil and promised to highlight the issue in his Friday sermon. He said the market union never approached him about this illegal practice, but vowed to play his role in eliminating it.
Aabpara Market Traders Welfare Association President Ajmal Baloch claimed he was unaware of the illegal trade in the market. He then blamed the police, saying it is their prime responsibility to keep an eye on the area and arrest drug peddlers. “I have no knowledge about this illegal business but I will investigate myself,” he assured.
Repeated attempts were made to contact Aabpara Police Station House Office Qasim Niazi, but he was unavailable.
Assistant Commissioner (City) Muhammad Ali told The Express Tribune that “very soon”, raids will be conducted to curb the practice. He added that a complete strategy will also be formulated.
Meanwhile, a sweet herbal smell will keep hovering in Aabpara’s air.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2013.