LAHORE, July 21: Federal Interior and Narcotic Control Minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has warned the opposition against taking the government’s flexibility on the LFO as its weakness.

Talking to reporters after setting on fire 45 tons of narcotic drugs seized by the Anti-Narcotic Force at Johar Town Expo Centre site here on Monday, the minister said the government had shown flexibility on the LFO, and now the ball was in the opposition’s court to give a (favourable) response. “It will be unfortunate, if the government’s flexibility is taken as its weakness.”

He said the opposition should not forget the ground realities and remember that it was the product of the present system. “It is not only sitting in the assemblies, but also enjoying the perks and privileges. But its attitude is not positive,” he said.

Answering a question on the Afghan allegations about Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism, the minister said the government could not do so because the law and order situation in Afghanistan directly affected it. “Pakistan cannot allow its soil to be used for cross-border terrorism because the country itself is a victim to terrorism,” he added.

He said the government had offered all possible help to Afghan President Hamid Karzai for restoration of peace, claiming that Afghanistan would be able to avail itself of the $4 billion international assistance only if there was stability in the country.

He said the terrorists who had attacked a Quetta imambargah had been identified. The government had kept a vigil at the activities of the banned religious outfits.

While speaking before the drug-burning ceremony, the narcotic minister said the government was spending Rs58.875 million on three programmes for creating mass awareness against drugs, community participation in drug demand reduction and the NGO support for treatment, rehabilitation and drug prevention.

The government had also decided to establish model rehabilitation centres in Quetta and Islamabad, besides elevation of 16 existing treatment facilities in the public sector.

He said the government was committed to continue efforts to eradicate the menace of drug trafficking despite all constraints.

He said Pakistan was unfortunately being used as a transit country. The traffickers had been adopting the most difficult routes to reach its coastline and used unconventional methods of smuggling. They possessed the latest weapons and communication system, he said. The government, he said, would fulfil the requirements of the Anti-Narcotic Force to enhance its capability to combat the drug mafia effectively.

According to ANF Director-General Maj-Gen Nadeem Ahmad, around 1,406.923 kilograms of heroin, 27,248.299 kilograms of charas, 15,624.25 kilograms of crushed poppy straw, 57.355 litres of acetic anhydride, 656,299 litres of liquors, 7,425 injections and 147.942 kilograms of miscellaneous narcotics had been seized in the Punjab, NWFP, Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir.

During the ceremony held here in November last year, he said 25 tons of drugs had been burnt. Another 15 tons of drugs were destroyed at a similar ceremony held in Quetta the same month.

He said Pakistan was actively collaborating with the UN Drug Control Organization to prevent drug smuggling into and through Pakistan. “Pakistan is no longer a source country of narcotics, but a victim and transit country where the number of drug addicts has exceeded 4 million.”

The minister also said the ANF had established a network of 300 NGOs to help it fight the menace.

RANGERS’ BRIEFING: Pakistan Rangers DG Maj-Gen Husain Mehdi briefed the interior minister on the anti-smuggling and anti-terrorism operations the Rangers had carried out in the province.