PESHAWAR: A court in Khyber district has convicted four persons for narcotics selling in two cases, and sentenced them to 14 years rigorous imprisonment each with a collective fine of Rs2.9 million.

In both the cases, additional district and sessions judge Aziz Mohammad ruled that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused persons and the evidence on record connected them with the offence.

The police had arrested three persons, namely Arifullah, Hakeem Khan and Hassan Shah, residents of Jamrud, for possessing and selling ice (crystal meth) and heroin. The accused were charged under section 9-D and 11-C of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Control of Narcotics Substance Act (CNSA).

Deputy public prosecutor Zulfiqar Ali argued that the accused were arrested red-handed and the seized contraband were recovered from their possession.

He contended that the police had prior information about the accused selling the narcotics.

The court awarded them 14 years rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs2.2 million.

In the other case, Khan Mohammad, a resident of Jamrud, was arrested from Jamrud Bazaar with one kilogramme of ice. He was also charged under section 11-C of CNSA.

Zulfiqar Ali contended that the recovery of contraband was made from the accused, and thus he deserved no leniency.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2022