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.
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.
COMMENTS (3)
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Now the writer here seems to be desperate to create a story when he is saying,
"From salesmen to hawkers and tailors to vendors, almost everyone doing business in Aabpara market is involved in selling drugs."
Yes there are people who take drug and there are people who drink and they do it every where around the country, I dont think i need to suggest examples here.. and I wonder if the writer has been in other parts of the city, before drafting such a story because if he had he would never pointed Abpara market out. I actually am now assuming that the writer is some paindu from somewhere in Southern Punjab newly came to Islamabad and only seen Abpara market ever since he has visited Islamabad, since the Office of Express news is in the market....
I happen to be a Member of the Trader Action Committee, Abpara Market and I know the market better than any body else. My elders have been doing business here for the last 35 years and have never seen such a thing I quoted the writer in inverted commas above.
I am actually more worried for The Express Tribune allowing such mindless people become part of their team doing such idiotic manuours ( pardon for spelling mistakes) to gain easy fame in the eyes of the editor.
I hope the Editor would look into the Column and delete it from the page right away since this is a serious, baseless and offensive allegation on all the Traders of the Market. These kind of allegations are a further threat to the already lagging business in the market and we do reserve the right to take strong actions against it legal and otherwise.
Let it also be a direct request to the editor that he should not delete my Comment unless the column is deleted along with. So that the people know both side of the story.
Regards and Warm wishes for The Express Tribune
pure garda for only 100 rupees briliant, i am on my way to islamabad
Oh ! i am a resident of that sector . This is very alarming . Please do something about it