LAHORE: The administrative affairs of Punjab’s six drug courts have almost come to a halt, thanks to the provincial government’s ‘indifference’.

Established at the divisional level, these courts are grappling with multiple issues chief among which is the fact that these are functioning without permanent members (in grade 19). These members assist courts in the cases involving major violations of rules.

“The government has recently cracked down on substandard and fake medicines/drugs which means extra burden on these courts,” an official told Dawn. He said nothing had been done to address the ‘critical issues’ of these courts, allowing the violators to escape punishments due to administrative flaws.

Abysmally low wages for permanent members

He said there are six drugs court working at the divisional level in Punjab and hundreds of cases land in them daily. “Most cases pertain to substandard and fake drugs, drug licensing, pricing and violation of other drug rules,”he said.

Initially, he said, these courts had to deal with ‘allopathic’ drug cases but their scope was extended when these were allowed to deal with the ‘therapeutic goods’ -- the drugs/goods which fall in the alternative system of medicine. Consequently, he said, the number of cases had alarmingly increased.

He said the pathetic situation of the drug courts could be judged from the fact that only one officer is working as permanent member whereas the other seven slots are awaiting postings. These slots were created to appoint ‘senior pharmacists’ having sound background and knowledge as permanent members to assist the drug courts chairmen in technical matters such as establishing illegality and recommending punishment. And instead of filling these posts by having suitable officers, the government is using services of the ‘visiting members’ against payment of paltry wages.

“The Punjab government, for example, has hired Prof Mubashar Ahmad Butt, a grade 21 retired officer, as visiting member for the Lahore Drug Court against Rs600 per visit to assist court,” the official lamented.

Meanwhile, the Lahore court chairman has highlighted the issue in correspondence with the federal and provincial authorities. In a letter to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights Division, he has pointed out the fact that “there is a member who is retired principal (BS-21) of College of Pharmacy, the University of Punjab, and is getting service compensation (honorarium) at the rate of Rs600 per visit and a maximum of Rs10,000 a month which has never been revised during the last many years.”

Such a meagre compensation for a highly-qualified person holding a PhD in pharmacy was highly unjustified, he said.

He said the technical members provide assistance to courts and help decide cases in a short span of time. “It is proposed that the service compensation/honorarium of the honorable member may very kindly be enhanced to minimum Rs3,000/visit keeping in view the present inflationary conditions,” the court chairman demanded.

He further said the ‘visiting members’ were not being paid perks and privileges or any incentive such as judicial allowance or transport facility.

According to the official, initially two drug courts were established by the federal government in Gujranwala and Multan and the other four were later set up by the Punjab government. After devolution of some ministries under the 18th Amendment, the administrative affairs of those established by the federal government also went to Punjab, he said.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2016