Sindh Assembly passes 'The Control of Narcotics Substance (Sindh Amendment) Bill, 2021'.

Byline: MUHAMMAD SABIH

KARACHI -- Sindh Assembly on Friday unanimously passed 'The Control of Narcotics Substance (Sindh Amendment) Bill, 2021', making the manufacturing, selling and dispatching of 'methamphetamine' drug commonly known as Ice or Crystal a punishable offence as a person involved in the heinous crime could be awarded death penalty and imprisonment.

The statement of objects and reasons of the government bill read that the culprits were given no punishment in trial courts as neurotoxic synthetic drugs including Ice, Crystal and Meth were not defined in the laws. 'Punishment for drug related crimes in the law are also assigned as per quantity, whereas severity of addiction and harm is not considered and drugs like Heroine and Cannabis are treated in same category,' it added.

The statement of objects and reasons also said that rigorousness of punishment may vary with respect of quantity that's why it was very difficult for police to prove the heinousness of the crime and get desired conviction.

The bill read that 'no person shall extract, prepare, process, manufacture, sell, purchase, deliver on any terms whatsoever and transport or dispatch the drug'. It added that the people found involved in violating the law could be given death penalty or imprisonment of three years to life term, depending upon the quantity of drugs.

As per the bill, a person could be given capital punishment or life imprisonment if the drug's quantity exceeded to 10-kilogram. The fine up to Rs one million may also be imposed on the law violators.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Narcotics Control Mukesh Kumar Chawla who moved the bill, after standing committee standing committee on Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights presented the report, said that the legislation was need of the hour. He said that there was no law for punishing the people on manufacturing and sell of recreational drugs. 'It (the bill) is for betterment of our new generation,' Chawla added.

Succession certificate

Meanwhile, the assembly also passed 'The Letters of Administration and Succession Certificate Bill, 2021' unanimously.

Chawla said that issuance of letters of administration and succession certificate was time consuming procedure, adding that the provincial government decided to enact the law keeping in view miseries of the citizens. Under the law the heirs of a deceased person could be able to apply for succession directly in NADRA for obtaining succession...