ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court has acquitted the main accused in a narcotics case and ordered that the rickshaw where the drugs were allegedly found to be returned to its owner.
According to police, three kilogrammes of hashish were found under the seat of a rickshaw being driven by the accused in Attock.
A three-judge bench on Tuesday refused to uphold the four-and-a-half year sentence awarded by lower courts for the crime, saying it felt that police unfairly targeted the poor in cases of narcotics possession.
Justice Mohammad, who was heading the bench made some interesting comments about the cost, availability, and usage of the drug.
He also pointed out flaws in the current narcotics laws in the country, observing that the law has not been able to differentiate between the sale and purchase of drugs "in 100 years".
For instance, "People consume a glass of bhang before dhamaal at shrines," he observed at one point, calling it the drug of choice for malangs.
"A kilo of charas is available in Kabul for a few hundred rupees, while the same quantity is available for a billion rupees in Europe," he observed.
The net and gross weight of the drug also came under discussion during the hearing, with the court insisting that the drug needs to be weighed at its net value "since its packaging is substantially heavy". However, the court observed, the police usually weighs the drug at its gross weight.
The court said that the accused should hence be given the benefit of doubt with regards to the quantity of hashish in his possession.
Hamza Rao is a member of the staff at Daily Pakistan. He can be reached at raohamzafree@gmail.com. He tweets at @HamzaRaoxxx
Pakistani currency saw minor adjustment against global currencies on April 17, 2024. US dollar was being quoted at 277.4 for buying and 280.4 for selling.
Euro comes down to 293.15 for buying and 296.1 for selling while British Pound stands at 344.25 for buying, and 347.6 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED was at 75.4 and Saudi Riyal's new rates was at 73.30.
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
---|---|---|---|
US Dollar | USD | 277.4 | 280.4 |
Euro | EUR | 293.15 | 296.1 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 344.25 | 347.6 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 75.45 | 76.2 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 73.3 | 74.05 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 181 | 182.5 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 739.38 | 747.38 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 201 | 203 |
China Yuan | CNY | 38.45 | 38.85 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 40.45 | 40.85 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 35.57 | 35.92 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.33 | 3.44 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.86 | 1.94 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 902.26 | 911.26 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 58.24 | 58.84 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 164.75 | 166.75 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 25.38 | 25.68 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 722.1 | 730.1 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 76.37 | 77.07 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 204.5 | 206.5 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 25.72 | 26.02 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 307.11 | 309.61 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 7.61 | 7.76 |
Copyright ©2024. Reproduction of this website's content without express written permission from 'Daily Pakistan' is strictly prohibited.