CHITRAL: In an effort to curb drug abuse in the district, the Chitral police have turned to use of the mosque pulpit in order to muster support of the civil society as special sermons are being delivered by the prayer leaders and police officers against drug peddling and abuse.

Former district nazim Maghfirat Shah told mediapersons here on Saturday that the police had shown strong resolve to make this district free of drugs by showing zero tolerance.

He claimed that the police had smashed the supply chain of drugs from the down districts and neighbouring areas of Afghanistan.

He said that they would fully support the police in their crusade against use of charas and other drugs.

Maulana Israruddin Al-Hilal, khateeb of Jamia Masjid Shah Bazaar, said that the religious leaders in the district had decided to highlight the harmful effects of drugs on human health in Friday sermons.

He said that drug peddling and abuse had started to plague the society in Chitral and it was the major issue before the local police.

When contacted, district police officer Waseem Riaz Khan said that soon after taking charge of his office a couple of months ago, he was approached by many people for taking action against drug peddlers.

He said that he was devising multiple activities in the district in which youth and other people would participate so that the menace of drugs could be eliminated from the society.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2020