GHALANAI: Assistant political agent Haleemzai tehsil has warned the tribal elders of punitive action if they don’t come forward to curb the use of narcotics in the area.

Haseeb-ur-Rehman Khalil was addressing a jirga of Haleemzai tribal elders here the other day.

He showed grave concern over the selling of ice (a kind of drug) in various bazaars of the Haleemzai tehsil, including Main Mandi Bazaar. He stressed upon the tribal elders that besides fulfilling the collective territorial responsibility of the area they should impose a complete ban on selling narcotics in the tehsil.

“Educated youth are using the ice as a drug which is dangerous for their health and the society as well,” the official warned. The assistant political agent said the drug was not only selling in the bazaars but also in villages which showed that local tribesmen were also involved in the illegal trade.

Mr Khalil warned that raids would be made on the houses of those selling the illegal drug. “The smugglers would be heavily fined, sent to jail for 10 years and expelled from the area,” he warned.

He said checking on various entry points had been enhanced to arrest the drug smugglers.

On the occasion, elders, including Malik Amir Nawaz Khan, Malik Nazir Khan, Jehan Zeb Mohmand and others, assured their full cooperation to the administration in curbing use of illegal drugs in Haleemzai area. However, they alleged that some elements in the political administration were hand in glove with the ice smugglers, and demanded action against them.

Meanwhile, Assistant Political Agent, Baizai tehsil, Pir Abdullah Shah along with agency agriculture officer paid a visit to Ghanam Shah Musa Khel area bordering Afghanistan and distributed maize seeds among the farmers.

A jirga was also held with tribesmen regarding security of the area and tribal elders were urged to fulfill their collective responsibility.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2016