LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North emir Inayatullah Khan on Tuesday expressed concern over the growing prevalence of narcotics, particularly crystal methamphetamine in the Malakand division, claiming that women, students and young people were increasingly falling victim to the menace.

During a press conference at the Timergara Press Club, he said the rapid spread of narcotics had become a social challenge, affecting not only youth but also women from respectable families.

He warned that if urgent measures were not taken to curb the menace, it could engulf the entire society.

Flanked by JI provincial deputy chief Arshad Zaman, information secretary Malik Sher Bahadur Khan and others, Mr Khan said the JI youth wing would organise protest demonstrations, awareness campaigns, walks and sit-ins across Malakand division to mobilise public opinion against drug abuse.

He alleged that certain police personnel were facilitating or turning a blind eye to the trafficking of narcotics and called for strict action against those involved.

Mr. Khan said his party would run a campaign to protect society from the growing threat of drug addiction.

He announced that the JI would launch its campaign at district headquarters against prolonged electricity outage, low voltage and poor mobile network services.

The JI leader also criticised persistent electricity outages, low voltage and poor telecommunications services in the region, saying these issues had made life difficult for residents and were adversely affecting businesses, banking operations and trade activities.

Mr. Khan maintained that his party was raising public issues while certain political parties despite being in power failed to work for the welfare of people.

To a question, he said that his party would participate in the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, but argued that meaningful relief for citizens would remain elusive unless broader systemic reforms were introduced.

Commenting on the political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Khan said merely changing a chief minister would not resolve the problems facing the province.

He claimed the provincial government had failed to address key issues and was facing allegations of corruption.

He, however, added that the JI wanted both the federal and provincial governments to complete their constitutional terms, saying they would continue to exert pressure on the rulers for solution to people’s problems and improved governance.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026