PESHAWAR: Announcing a crackdown on crystal meth (ice) in the provincial capital, the police on Saturday complained that a lack of legislation against the party drug led to the easy acquittal of its sellers in courts.

They however said a law was on the anvil against it.

SSP (operations) Javed Iqbal told reporters here that the ‘Ice-Free Peshawar Campaign’ was meant to eliminate crystal meth from the city as the drug’s use wasn’t declining despite arrest of its sellers and paddlers.

He said the police would also create public awareness of the harmful effects of crystal meth for human health by engaging electronic and print media, religious scholars and administrations of colleges and universities.

Mr Iqbal said the police had arrested scores of drug sellers besides seizing a large quantity of narcotics, including ice.

He said two kilogrammes crystal meth, 624kg charas, 26kg heroin and 3,300 liters liquor were seized and drug peddlers were held lately.

The SSP said the crystal meth sellers easily got out of jail on bail as there was no legislation against the party drug.

“The sale of crystal meth is still not against the law,” he said.

Mr Iqbal said after securing release on bail, the sellers of crystal meth resumed trade harming mostly youths.

He said as the police had written to the provincial government for legislation against crystal meth, a law was being drafted to criminalise its sale and use.

The SSP said unless the people knew about the threats of ice to their health, it was very difficult to check the spread of its addiction.

He said the crackdown on crystal meth would continue until the drug was eliminated from the city.

Mr Iqbal said the police would engage parents, religious scholars, school and college teachers and people from others walks to life for fight against crystal meth, while the services of civil society activists and media would be used to raise public awareness against the menace.

He said seminars would also be held in educational institutions to sensitise students to the harms of crystal meth.

The SSP said all sub divisional police officers would lead anti-ice walks in their respective areas, where local elders and elected representatives would also participate.

He said the police would put up banners against crystal meth at all prominent places and distribute handbills and pamphlets, while prayer leaders and religious scholars would be told to highlight the menace in sermons and help the police eliminate it.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2018