Synthetic drug production in Afghanistan responsible for growing substance abuse in Pakistan — official

A Sufi devotee smokes at the Data Darbar Shrine during the three-day annual 'Urs' religious festival in Lahore on October 6, 2020. The Data Darbar complex contains the shrine of Saint Syed Ali bin Osman Al-Hajvery, popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh. (AFP/File)
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Updated 10 September 2024
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Synthetic drug production in Afghanistan responsible for growing substance abuse in Pakistan — official

  • Kabul government rejects ANF claims of “unprecedented” rise in the production of synthetic drugs in Afghanistan
  • Although there are no official statistics, health professionals in Pakistan warn that addiction to crystal meth is soaring

ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani anti-narcotics official said this week an “unprecedented” surge in synthetic drug production in neighboring Afghanistan and smuggling to Pakistan was responsible for a spike in substance use in the last few years.

Afghanistan has historically been the epicenter of poppy cultivation and a major supplier of global opiates. But the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said last year opium cultivation fell throughout the country to just 10,800 hectares (26,700 acres) in 2023 from 233,000 hectares the previous year, slashing supply by 95 percent to 333 tons.

“While there has been a decline in poppy cultivation in our neighboring country, an unprecedented rise in the production of synthetic drugs there has been witnessed,” ANF Director Syed Sijjeel Haider told reporters on Monday. 

“There has been an increase in drug usage and narcotics smuggling in Pakistan over the past few years, with the majority of those affected being our youth.”

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen rejected Haider’s claim, calling it an effort to “malign” Afghanistan.

“It is not true. We don’t have chemicals in Afghanistan which are used in synthetic drugs,” he told Arab News in a written statement. “All these chemicals are available in Pakistan. There are factories in tribal areas in Pakistan which make synthetic drugs.” 

Although there are no official statistics, health professionals in Pakistan, a nation of some 240 million, warn that addiction to crystal meth is soaring. Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that can be injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested orally. Health experts say users get a “euphoric high” that can last from minutes to several hours. Meth abuse can lead to anxiety, insomnia, and violent behavior, according to experts.

Pakistan’s interior ministry approved a fresh National Drug Survey this year to help combat the growing drug problem. The last survey in 2012-13 revealed that around 6 percent of the Pakistani population at the time, or 6.7 million people, had used substances other than alcohol and tobacco in the previous year. The highest prevalence of drug use was in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where almost 11 percent of the population used an illicit substance.

The real figures were and are likely much higher as drug abuse is a taboo in Pakistan where many do not seek treatment for addiction.

Haider said Pakistan had largely eliminated drug production and the ANF was collaborating with security agencies to combat poppy cultivation, mainly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the southwestern Balochistan provinces, both of which border Afghanistan.

“This year, the ANF destroyed poppy crops over 1,113 acres and sealed three storage facilities,” the ANF director said, adding that the force had seized 113,798 kilograms of narcotics in various operations that were valued at approximately $6.5 billion in the illicit international drugs market.

More than 1,400 suspects, including 116 women and 44 foreigners, were arrested and three ANF personnel were killed during raids this year, he added. Additionally, 2,931 drug addicts were treated at seven ANF rehabilitation centers and over 5,500 awareness sessions on the prevention of drug abuse were conducted nationwide in 2024 so far.


Over 50 Pakistanis imprisoned in Sri Lanka due to return home today

Updated 4 sec ago
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Over 50 Pakistanis imprisoned in Sri Lanka due to return home today

  • The return of these Pakistani prisoners follows months of diplomatic negotiations between Pakistani and Sri Lankan authorities
  • Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi spearheaded the effort, while Privatization Minister Abdul Aleem Khan announced bearing all expenses

ISLAMABAD: More than 50 Pakistanis, who had been imprisoned in Sri Lanka, were due to return home on Sunday, Pakistani state media reported.

The return of these Pakistani prisoners follows months of diplomatic negotiations between Pakistani and Sri Lankan authorities.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi spearheaded the efforts to secure their release, while Privatization Minister Abdul Aleem Khan announced bearing all expenses in this regard.

“A chartered flight has left for Sri Lanka to bring the Pakistani prisoners back,” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

Naqvi expressed his gratitude to the Sri Lankan government and the high commissioner for their support in this regard, according to the report.

Sri Lankan High Commissioner Ravindra Chandra Srivijay Gunaratne met Naqvi in July and discussed with him matters of mutual interest, including the release of Pakistani nationals imprisoned in Sri Lanka.

A total of 23,456 Pakistani citizens are imprisoned in various countries, local media reported, citing the Pakistani Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights.

Of them, 15,587 have been convicted of different offenses and 7,869 are under-trial.


Top official of ex-PM Khan’s party ‘missing’ as nearly 900 arrested in Islamabad protests

Updated 26 min 25 sec ago
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Top official of ex-PM Khan’s party ‘missing’ as nearly 900 arrested in Islamabad protests

  • Hundreds of Khan supporters set out for Islamabad from various parts of the country on Friday to take part in a protest at D-Chowk square
  • Clashes erupted after the police tried to prevent caravans of Khan supporters from entering the capital, resulting in the killing of one cop

ISLAMABAD: Mystery continued to surround the whereabouts of a key official of former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) opposition party as its protest entered a third day on Sunday, with at least one policeman killed in clashes and almost 900 demonstrators arrested.
Hundreds of Khan supporters set out for Islamabad from various parts of the country on Friday to take part in a protest at D-Chowk. Police tried to prevent the protesters from entering Islamabad, which led to violent clashes between the two sides over the course of two days. Authorities said at least one policeman was killed in the clashes and dozens of other law enforcers sustained injuries, whereas Khan’s party said the police heavily shelled its supporters with tear gas.


Khan’s party announced this week it was protesting the government’s proposed constitutional amendments that it claims are aimed at curtailing the independence of the judiciary, with the government repudiating the charge. The party has also been trying to mobilize supporters through protests and public gatherings to pressure the government for the release of Khan, who has been in prison since August last year on a slew of charges.
Tensions between the government and the PTI escalated on Saturday after the paramilitary Rangers force stormed KP’s administration office in Islamabad, with the party saying Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who led caravans of Khan supporters to Islamabad from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, had been “kidnapped.”
“Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Gandapur is neither in our [Islamabad Police] custody nor is he in the custody of any other Pakistani institution,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Islamabad after attending deceased police constable Abdul Hameed Shah’s funeral prayers, denying the PTI claims that Gandapur had been abducted by police or intelligence agencies. 
“He himself is on the run. Islamabad police will deal with him as per law as they are definitely searching for him.”
Naqvi said the capital police conducted three raids at various locations on Saturday night where they suspected Gandapur was present, adding that he was not found there.
“We still have blockades at certain points in the city and are actively searching for him,” Naqvi said. 
Speaking at a presser, Islamabad police chief Ali Nasir Rizvi said they had rounded up 878 suspects during the days-long violent protests, of whom “120 were Afghan nationals.”
“Tear gas were fired on us, [we were] pelted with stones, with protesters using slingshots to attack us,” he said, without offering any evidence to support his statement.
Shah, the deceased police constable, was posted at Chungi no. 26 from where he was abducted by protesters, according to Islamabad police spokesman Muhammad Taqi Jawad. A resident of the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, Shah joined Islamabad Police in 1988 and was serving in its investigation wing.
“Miscreants kept torturing police constable Shah after abducting him,” Jawad said, adding that Shah was set to retire in three months upon completing his service.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Shah’s killing, blaming the PTI for the violent protests.
“PTI always adopted the path of violence under the guise of protest,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office. “The prime minister has directed to bring all people involved in the incident to justice.”
Current situation in Islamabad
Normalcy started returning to the Pakistani capital on Sunday afternoon after a majority of roads and thoroughfares in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, which had been sealed with shipping containers on Friday, were reopened for traffic, and mobile phone services were largely restored, bringing a sigh of relief to residents of the twin cities.
Speaking of the present situation in the capital, the Islamabad police spokesperson said the protesters who had entered Islamabad with CM Gandapur had left and there was no sit-in protest going on in the city.
“No protesters are in Islamabad right now and the roads are partially opened,” he said.
An Arab News survey, however, revealed that few roads leading toward the capital’s Red Zone, home to key diplomatic and government offices, were still blocked off with shipping containers.


Pakistan’s Masood warns England still a force without Stokes

Updated 06 October 2024
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Pakistan’s Masood warns England still a force without Stokes

  • Ollie Pope will again lead England after deputising successfully in the recent 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka
  • Stokes led England to 3-0 Test win on England’s last tour in 2022, the first time Pakistan were swept at home

MULTAN: Pakistan captain Shan Masood warned on the eve of Monday’s first Test in Multan that his side would still be facing a formidable England, despite the absence of their captain Ben Stokes.

Ollie Pope will again lead England after deputising successfully in the recent 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka as Stokes, 33, was ruled out as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

“We all know the quality of Ben Stokes,” said Masood on Sunday ahead of the start of the three-Test series. “He is one of the top all-rounders of the world.”

“England’s strength will not lessen with one individual (missing),” he warned. “They are still very competitive.

“If you look at their playing eleven then it’s very balanced with all-rounders, and they have two spinners and three fast bowlers with deep batting, so their loss is that of an individual.”

Stokes led England to an emphatic 3-0 Test series victory on England’s last tour in 2022, the first time Pakistan had been swept at home.

England return with Pakistan on a painful losing streak — winless in their last 10 home Tests and suffering a humiliating 2-0 home defeat to Bangladesh last month.

“They’ve obviously not had their strongest run recently, but we still see them as a highly skilled side,” said Pope. “They are a team we don’t take lightly.”

Pakistan named their team with a bowling attack of two fast bowlers in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, medium-pacer Aamer Jamal and frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed.

An impressive Jamal took 18 wickets against Australia in three Tests in his debut series earlier this year, but missed the Bangladesh series with a back problem. He also contributed 143 runs.

“With Jamal we get an edge in the seam department,” said Masood.

With James Anderson and Stuart Broad retired, Mark Wood injured and Ollie Robinson not selected, none of England’s pace bowlers from the 2022 series remain.

But Masood cited Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse as threats.

“You cannot under-estimate anyone and need to be more cautious against any unknown player,” said Masood.

The second match is also in Multan, from October 15, with the final Test in Rawalpindi beginning October 24.

Squads

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmad

England: Ollie Pope (captain), Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes


Pakistan bans prominent Pashtun rights group critical of its military 

Updated 06 October 2024
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Pakistan bans prominent Pashtun rights group critical of its military 

  • Pakistan’s interior ministry says Pashtun Tahafuz Movement involved in activities “prejudicial” to country’s peace and security
  • Formed in 2014, PTM advocates for the rights of Pashtuns, especially in country’s militancy-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province 

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Interior Ministry announced on Sunday it had declared the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), a prominent Pashtun rights group, a “proscribed organization” for being involved in activities prejudicial to the country’s peace and security. 

Originally formed as the Mehsud Tahafuz Movement in 2014, the PTM campaigns against alleged extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of Pashtuns and other ethnic minorities in Pakistan.

The PTM alleges Pashtuns have faced rights abuses during Pakistan’s war against militants, mainly in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It blames Pakistan’s powerful military for rights abuses in the northwestern province, a charge the institution has consistently denied. 

In a notification released on Sunday, the interior ministry said it has “reasons to believe” the PTM is engaged in “certain activities which are prejudicial to the peace and security of the country.” The notification did not elaborate what activities it was referring to. 

“NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11B of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 (XXVII of 1997), the Federal Government is pleased to list the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in the First Schedule as a proscribed organization for the purposes of the said Act,” the notification read. 

Formed by veterinary sciences student Manzoor Pashteen, the PTM was a pressure group that shot to national prominence when they spearheaded protests against the killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a young garment trader and aspiring model shot dead by police in Karachi in 2018. 

In the 2018 election, PTM leaders Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir were elected to parliament from Pakistan’s restive North and South Waziristan districts, respectively. 

The PTM says it has faced harassment, intimidation and censorship at the hands of Pakistan’s powerful military, which has ruled the country directly for over 30 years since it gained independence in 1947. 

The military denies the PTM’s accusations and has often accused it of being funded by foreign intelligence agencies, notably Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) and India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The PTM denies these allegations. 


Pakistan to attract over $27 billion from Saudi Arabia, other countries in coming years— state media 

Updated 06 October 2024
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Pakistan to attract over $27 billion from Saudi Arabia, other countries in coming years— state media 

  • Notable investors include Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Azerbaijan, says state media 
  • Says investment’s main objective is to stabilize economy by developing its key sectors

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to secure more than $27 billion in foreign direct investment from Asian and European countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and others in the coming years, state-run media reported on Sunday. 

Facing a prolonged economic crisis, Pakistan has turned to regional allies in the Middle East and Central Asia in recent months for foreign investment. The South Asian country sees foreign investment as the answer to an economic crisis that has seen its foreign reserves decline considerably and currency weaken over the past two years. 

“With the facilitation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the government is set to attract more than twenty-seven billion dollars in foreign direct investment from Asian and European countries in the coming years,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. 

The SIFC is a hybrid civil-military government body formed in 2023 to fast-track decision-making and attract investment in Pakistan’s critical sectors such as minerals, IT, defense and agriculture. The body aims to attract international investments, particularly from Gulf countries. 

“Among the notable investors, Saudi Arabia has pledged to invest five billion dollars, while the UAE and Kuwait want to invest ten billion dollars each, while Azerbaijan has expressed desire to invest two billion dollars,” Radio Pakistan said. 

It said the investment’s main objective is to assist in “stabilizing” Pakistan’s economy by developing its key sectors. 

Radio Pakistan said Azerbaijan is “particularly keen” to invest in Pakistan’s space industry projects, hydrometeorology and climate change initiatives.

“In addition to these investments, the Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group of China wants to contribute to Pakistan’s energy sector by exploring technological advancements and joint ventures in energy, petrochemicals, and industrial development,” it said. 

It said Pakistan is set to engage with Denmark’s “renowned mining companies” to modernize its mining industry using advanced technologies.