KARACHI: A session court on Wednesday sentenced three men, including two policemen, to life imprisonment for trafficking over 18 kilograms of charas from Hub Chowki to Karachi.

Additional District and Sessions Judge of the Model Court (West) Ameeruddin convicted Ali Raza, Shahid Khan from the Quetta police, and a private person, Khan Zaman, for trafficking over 18 kilograms of charas with the intent to sell it from Hub Chowki to Karachi. The court also imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on each convict, with the stipulation that failure to pay would result in an additional six months of imprisonment.

In his detailed judgement, the judge remarked, “When police officials commit an offence, the gravity of their transgression is significantly magnified compared to that of ordinary citizens. Entrusted with the responsibility to uphold the law, protect citizens, and maintain public order, these officials wield considerable authority and influence. A breach of this trust not only tarnishes the integrity of the individual officers involved but also undermines public confidence in the entire law enforcement system.”

He added, “The expectations of ethical conduct and accountability are elevated for those in positions of power, and their actions set a precedent for societal norms. Therefore, when police officials engage in criminal activity, it constitutes a profound betrayal of public trust and a severe violation of their duty, necessitating stringent scrutiny and consequences.”

According to state prosecutor Muhammad Tahir Khan, in April of last year, acting on a tip-off, the police stopped a car near Main Hub River Road where the three accused were en route to Karachi from Hub Chowki. During the search, the police recovered 15 packets of charas concealed in the car, with 12 packets wrapped in yellow tape and three in white tape. Additionally, a licensed 9mm pistol was also recovered.

During the trial, the defence counsel argued that the police had falsely implicated his client in this case. However, the court noted that the witnesses supported the prosecution’s case against the accused, and the defence counsel failed to provide sufficient evidence in support of their claims.

A case was registered at the Mochko police station under Section 6/9(i)(3)(E) of the Control of Narcotic Substances Act.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2024