PESHAWAR, March 22: Fifty-one leading religious leaders and scholars from the NWFP and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) have issued an edict declaring cultivation of poppy and hashish and drug trafficking as un-Islamic.

The ulema signed the decree after a seminar held here under the auspices of the Anti-Narcotics Force on Saturday, said ANF’s Force Commander, Brig Mohammad Najmul Hassan Jamil, at a press conference on Tuesday.

A copy of the declaration bearing signatures of provincial Nifaz-i-Shariat Council chairman Mufti Ghulamur Rehman, provincial Khateeb Qari Roohullah Madani and other ulema was provided to the journalists.

According to the declaration, safeguarding natural and moral traits of human beings as gifted by God is the responsibility of the whole society.

The ulema called upon the government to make laws regarding the eradication of narcotics more effective.

Brig Jamil said the ANF had seized over 68kgs of heroin, 57.65kgs of opium, 14.85 tons of hashish, 450 grams of amphetamine and a large number of arms and ammunition in 2004.

He said that during a survey conducted by the ANF, it came to light that farmers had cultivated poppy on 5,468 acres in tribal and settled areas of the province.

According to the survey, growers in the Khyber Agency cultivated the banned crop on 3,393 acres. The other areas under poppy cultivation are Mohmand Agency, 905 acres; Kala Dhaka, 630 acres; Bajaur, 500 acres; Upper Dir, 40 acres; Lower Dir, 6 acres; and Swabi, 4 acres.

Brig Jamil said the ANF had destroyed the standing poppy crop on 24 acres. He observed that tribal people cultivated poppy only to pressurize the government to initiate development programmes in their areas.

Besides, the ANF registered 66 cases relating to narcotics smuggling and arrested 97 Pakistanis, one Afghan and two other foreigners last year. Eight proclaimed offenders were also taken into custody.

The ANF also seized 39kgs of heroin and 398kgs of hashish at the Peshawar international airport and arrested four Pakistani and one Afghan national on the charge of attempting to smuggle the narcotics aboard.