PESHAWAR: A local court has convicted a man for narcotics trafficking and sentenced him to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs1 million.

Additional sessions judge Attaullah Jan pronounced that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused, Alam Khan, a resident of Mianwali, and the evidence on record connected him with the commission of the offence.

The court also declared an absconding co-accused, Masoodur Rehman, an Afghan national, as proclaimed offender, and issued his perpetual arrest warrants.

The court directed National Database and registration Authority to block the PoR (proof of registration) card of the absconding accused.

The accused was arrested by the excise police on Dec 6, 2023, on Peshawar’s Ring Road when he was driving a mini bus.

On search of the vehicle, the excise team had recovered narcotics concealed in packets of tissue papers.

The recovered narcotics included 12 kilogrammes of opium and 785 grams of crystal meth (ice).

Assistant public prosecutor Denis Murad appeared for the state and contended that the accused was arrested red-handed and the recovery was made from his possession.

He pointed out that the excise police had a tip-off about smuggling of narcotics to Punjab, following

which they laid a cordon on the Ring Road near Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway.

He stated that the accused, Alam Khan had told the investigation officer that the packets of tissue papers were loaded in the vehicle by the co-accused, Masoodur Rehman and he was told to take it to Lahore.

He argued that the co-accused had been absconding. He added that the accused was arrested for a heinous offence and he didn’t deserve any leniency.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2024