PESHAWAR: A local court has convicted an accused for narcotics smuggling and sentenced him to life imprisonment and fined him Rs1 million.

An additional sessions judge, Attaullah Jan, pronounced after completion of trial that the prosecution proved its case beyond any shadow of doubt against the accused, Mohammad Sabir, a resident of Shaheedabad Peshawar, therefore he was convicted under section 9-D of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Control of Narcotics Substance Act.

The assistant public prosecutor, Dennis Murad, appeared for the state and said that the officers of excise police had prior tip about smuggling of contraband through a vehicle in Peshawar on Feb 5, 2024.

He stated that the personnel of excise police laid a cordon on the road and stopped a suspected vehicle, which was driven by the Mohammad Sabir. He said that on searching the vehicle, the personnel spotted two sacks which were having 40 packets of charas.

He said that on weighing the contraband, it was around 48 kilograms. He added that samples were taken from the recovered contraband and sent to forensic science laboratory for chemical examination, which confirmed that it was narcotics. He said that an FIR was registered against the accused at excise police station under section 9-D of KP Control of Narcotics Substance Act.

Mr Dennis argued that the accused was caught red-handed and there was no doubt about his involvement in the commission of the offence. He added that the evidence recorded by the prosecution witnesses was also in line with the prosecution case. He said that the accused was charged for commission of a heinous offence and he didn’t deserve any leniency.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2025