By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: District Police Officer(DPO) doctor Muhammad Iqbal on Sunday said that working on the zero-tolerance policy they have arrested several narcotics smugglers and killers and recovered a bulk of different contraband from their possessions in district Khyber.
Dr Muhammad Iqbal speaking to The News during his surprise visits to different police stations and police check posts in Landikotal said that the Khyber police were committed to fighting against all social evils.
He said all police stations and police checkpoints were strictly directed to serve the people and keep a vigilant eye over the criminals and narcotics smugglers.
Meanwhile, DPO awarded an honorary certificate to sub-inspector Ishrat Shinwari for his outstanding performance during the past few months.
Iqbal checked complaints books at police stations and ordered the officials to ensure the best possible service delivery.
He said Khyber police in the past few months have taken several timely actions against outlaws, drug dealers and those who want to sabotage peace in district Khyber.
He said with the other law enforcement agencies coordination Khyber police have waged war against those wanted in killings, corrupt mafia, narcotics dealers, outlaws and other criminals.
“As I took charge in district Khyber I faced many challenges including a strong network of narcotics smugglers and corruption mafia who were active and involved in different illegal and anti-social activities”, said DPO.
He said they took quick actions and conducted raids on the narcotics dens and recovered a huge quantity of contrabands”, said DPO.
He said they have so far seized 116 kilograms of heroin, 357 kilograms of hashish,66 kilograms of opium and 2332 kilograms of Ice drug in various raids on the narcotics dens and heroin factories in the district Khyber.
The district police chief said they have arrested a number of narcotics dealers and cases have been registered against them.
Iqbal said they have also arrested three persons who had murdered three children in Landikotal, Jamrud and Tirah valley in different incidents. He said the media should pinpoint their weaknesses and strong points so that the police department could root out all kinds of social evil from society.
To a question, he said heroin and locally made alcohol factories were also destroyed in the past few months and their owners were behind the bars.
Dr Iqbal said on the directives of the high ups he suspended 70 police department employees including three deputy superintendents of police(DSP) on corruption charges. Adding that he dismissed three other police officers from their services who had secret involvement with narcotics smugglers. He said his team was struggling to streamline the police force in the newly merged district and were trying their level best to deliver the best services.
Dr Iqbal said drug dealing in the Khyber district was considered a normal business and a good number of people were involved in it. He said Ice drugs and heroin were penetrating like cancer in society that claimed a number of lives every month. He said they should take serious actions to save youth and the next generation from going in the wrong direction.
The Khyber police chief urged citizens to identify all those who were practising any kind of illegal and immoral activities so that police could put their hands on them and help create a healthy environment.
