RAWALPINDI - Residents of Garoti Mohalla, Bakra Mandi and adjoining areas staged a protest demonstration on Thursday against the open sale of narcotics in their areas.
They also alleged that some corrupt police officials, posted at Chowky Shah Faisal controlled by Police Station RA Bazaar, have been patronising the illegal trade of charas, heroin and liquor and appealed to Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif, IGP Khan Baig and DG Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to take action against the culprits.
Partial shutdown was also observed by the local traders in protest against, what local residents claimed, the exploding business of narcotics. During the entire episode, traffic remained blocked on many roads, posing hardships for commuters.
The residents said that a number of drug dens were operating in these areas right under the nose of Superintendent of Police (SP) Potohar Division but no action was being taken to curb the menace that had destroyed the lives of many.
The said that the number of drug peddlers and addicts was increasing in the garrison city because of the slackness of police and ANF.
The drug addicts could be seen at various areas including Bakra Mandi, Garoti Stop, Shah Faisal area, Dhoke Seydan Road, they said and added that the suppliers of narcotics approached the drug addicts in the areas and sell heroin and other drugs to them even in broad daylight.
Amir Shah, resident of Garoti Muhalla, told The Nation that a group of drug peddlers have been active in the area and keep sitting there throughout the day.
"They sell narcotics to the addicts but police seem unaware of their existence and have never taken action against them," he said. Similarly, other residents that police were reluctant to arrest the drug sellers and they get their share from them.
The CPO, SP Potohar division and ASP cantonment were not available for their comments.