QUETTA: Balochistan Peace Forum chairman and senior leader of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Haji Lashkari Khan Raisani has urged provincial authorities and the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to launch a crackdown on drug peddlers luring youngsters into addiction.

Speaking at a function on Monday, he said that drug peddlers were running the notorious business with impunity and drugs were being sold in detention centres as well.

Referring to a report about drug addiction in Balochistan, Mr Raisani said that data compiled by an NGO revealed that two per cent people of the province had plunged into drug addiction but the total number of drug addicts was much higher. “Along with terrorism we have been battling a silent war that has been destroying future generations and pushing them towards criminal activities,” he said.

Mr Raisani said that after Afghan war drug culture was deliberately introduced in society to distract the youth from education. He said that heads of educational institutes and jail authorities should keep a vigilant eye to protect youngsters from drug addiction. He urged the provincial government and the ANF as well as civil society to play their due role in eradicating drug addiction from Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2018