PESHAWAR (Kashmir English): The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial administration has suspended the proposed amendments to the Narcotics Act in view of certain political pressures.
The proposed move sought the repeal of the death sentence in narcotics cases.
There are reports that the provincial cabinet opposed the proposed KP narcotics law in view of certain misleading reports that the Chief Minister has ties with drug dealers.
The proposed amendments had been referred to the members of the provincial cabinet for approval.
The Excise and Narcotics Control Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is said to have prepared the draft bill to amend the law.
Modifying the law was carried out on the basis of recommendations from the cabinet committee and the sub-committee. Life imprisonment would replace the death penalty.
The current law frames the death penalty for possessing more than 3 kg of heroin, cocaine, and ice. The new proposal has framed a sentence of 24 years in prison and a fine of Rs 4 million.
The other cases related to drugs have also been made stricter regarding punishments and fines.
However, it was announced that the law division had termed an amendment bill constitutionally and legally appropriate.
