PHC seeks govt report on funds received for drug rehab.

PESHAWAR -- The Peshawar High Court has directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to produce a report within 14 days on the functioning of drug rehabilitation centres in the province and the funds received for the purpose from different sources.

A bench consisting of Justice Mussarat Hilali and Justice Mohammad Nasir Mehfooz ordered the home and social welfare secretaries to inform it about the steps taken to check the growing incidence of beggary.

It observed that the government report should explain how much funding it had received from the federal government, foreign donors and NGOs for the rehabilitation of drug addicts in the province.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by senior lawyer Malik Mohammad Ajmal against the growing number of drug addicts on streets with a request for the issuance of directions to the federal and provincial governments to take steps for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and prevention of the supply of narcotics to them.

The petitioner also requested the court to direct the government to control beggary on streets and rehabilitate beggars, especially children and women.

Asks depts about steps taken against beggary

He claimed that for the last many years, the number of beggars and drug addicts had increased manifold across the province, especially Peshawar.

Justice Mussarat Hilali observed that it was regrettable that beggars were seen on all busy roads and crossings in large numbers.

The bench observed that drug addicts were spread in the city.

It added that it was the responsibility of the government to address those issues and work for the rehabilitation of drug addicts and beggars.

Peshawar deputy commissioner Mohammad Ali Asghar informed the bench that professional beggars had been shifted by contractors to the city from Punjab and Sindh but they'd yet to be...