KARACHI: A session court has sentenced a drug trafficker to rigorous life imprisonment for smuggling 40 kilograms of charas.

Additional and Sessions Judge (Malir) Liaqat Ali Khoso pronounced the verdict after carefully considering evidence from all parties involved and found Abdul Nasir guilty of smuggling 40kg of charas concealed under the rear seat of a rickshaw.

Additionally, the court imposed a fine of Rs1 million on him. In default of payment, the convict will face an additional six months of imprisonment.

Regarding the case property, the court has ordered that the confiscated narcotic substance and the rickshaw be preserved until the final decision of the case against the convict and the accused absconders, Jalil Ahmed and Muhammad Tariq.

“From the evidence available on record, the prosecution has established the case of possession of narcotics against the accused,” the court ruled.

According to State Prosecutor Riaz Ali Soomro, the apprehension occurred within the jurisdiction of the Ibrahim Haidri police station in February 2023. Acting on a tip-off during patrolling, the police intercepted a rickshaw. However, the driver fled upon seeing the police party. The law enforcement personnel apprehended Abdul Nasir from the rear seat of the rickshaw and recovered 40 packets, each containing 1kg of charas, wrapped in blue plastic bags.

In the detailed verdict, the judge noted that during the trial, the defence counsel did not contest the chemical examination report of the recovered substance. Although the defence argued that the police had falsely implicated the accused, the court observed a lack of evidence to substantiate this claim.

“The accused did not raise any objections regarding tampering, manipulation, substitution, or changes to the seal, property, or parcel,” observed the court.

Furthermore, the court acknowledged that the accused had no prior involvement in criminal activities, and the prosecution had not presented any documentary evidence to the contrary.

“It is a harsh fact that the drug business is an organised crime and private persons are not inclined to be the prey of the drug barons, drug tycoons and put themselves and their families in any danger of life and property, hence common people are reluctant to be in support of police in narcotics and other organise crime,” the court remarked.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2024