By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: In a powerful show of unity, participants at the “Meet the Press” event held on Tuesday at the District Press Club Landikotal, pledged unwavering support to police and law enforcement agencies, declaring the fight against rampant drug abuse and social evils as a shared moral, social and religious duty of every responsible citizen.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Assistant Commissioner (AAC) Landikotal, Shahabuddin, said drugs not only destroy individual lives but also tear apart families and entire communities. He emphasized that reform must start at the personal level and advised parents to monitor their children’s whereabouts and social circles closely. “Every citizen should report suspicious activity to prevent social decay,” he urged.
Mirajuddin Shinwari, chairman of Khyber sports club, emphasized that everyone must play their role in fighting social ills, especially the drug crisis rapidly gripping Landikotal’s youth.
“The number of drug-addicted persons hit hundreds, which is alarming. We need open sports grounds to engage youth and keep them away from drugs,” Mirajuddin Shinwari said. He also urged police to remain vigilant and arrest drug dealers while calling on journalists to raise awareness through the media and social platforms.
Senior journalist Qazi Fazlullah outlined a three-tier strategy to combat drug culture: stopping supply, preventing production and ensuring effective rehabilitation. He noted that many rehabilitated individuals fall back into drug use due to a lack of job opportunities and called for dedicated drug wards in hospitals.
“Tons of narcotics, including Ice, are being smuggled into Pakistan via various routes in merged districts, yet only a few kilograms are seized,” he said, criticizing weak law enforcement and border control. He also warned that journalists reporting on drug issues face threats and intimidation. He said black sheep were among all walks of life, including the journalist community.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) local leader Abu Darda Shinwari stated that community members have social, political and legal obligations to curb drug proliferation. As a Landikotal council member, Abu Darda Shinwari promised to take up the matter seriously and encourage citizens to work jointly against drug dealers on the assembly floor.
JUI Landikotal Ameer Maulana Aqib Afridi questioned the police’s weak response and lack of follow-up on arrested drug dealers, who were often released within weeks. He pointed out the growing use of Ice at wedding ceremonies and proposed forming secret teams to identify and arrest traffickers, village by village.
JI Landikotal Ameer Abdur Rauf Shinwari criticized the law enforcement agencies for their failure to deliver honestly, citing a lack of inter-departmental coordination as a major flaw that benefits smugglers.
PML-N Khyber general secretary Sajid Ali Afridi linked the drug crisis to poverty, lawlessness and poor governance, urging systemic reforms to address the root causes.
Station House Officer (SHO)of Landikotal police station, Adnan Afridi, pledged to take strict action against drug dealers and traffickers. He asked locals to provide information to support the police’s efforts in eliminating the drug culture.
Former SHO Ishrat Khan Shinwari, ANF inspector Jahanzeb, transport president Azeemullah Shinwari and community elder Muhammadullah Shinwari also attended the event and expressed solidarity with the anti-drug movement.
The gathering concluded with a unanimous call for coordinated efforts from all sectors of society to rescue the youth of Landikotal from the clutches of drugs and restore peace and order in the region.
