Sindh’s resolve against narcotics to face tough test

• Backed by certain quarters, crackdown on drugs, gutka, mainpuri in full swing • Recent sacking of three SSPs said to be linked with ongoing action • IG Odho claims supply of drugs and banned items has been curtailed • Says SHOs ‘mixed-up with narcotics dealers’ will certainly go A SUDDEN flurry of activity by police, though much awaited, is being seen in Sindh to take on those dealing in the infamous narcotics trade. The actions are largely seen in major urban centres. While the action is indeed appreciable, it remains enigmatic too. Investigations and background conversations by Dawn with senior government sources reveal different theories behind the ongoing exercise. People with authority both in civilian and non-civilian set-ups confide to Dawn , on condition of anonymity, that the Sindh police have been “pushed” by the powers that be to tackle the issue of narcotics trade, tobacco, gutka, safina, mainpuri, ‘ice’ or crystal meth (methamphetamine), seriously. Linking the recent removal of the SSPs of Sanghar, Thatta and Umerkot districts from their respective posts with the ongoing action, they said that sleuths of an intelligence agency had picked up an accountant of SSP-Sanghar office along with some suspected dealers. However, the transfer notifications remained silent about the reason, but a top-ranking official has confirmed that an internal inquiry was underway against one of the two officers. “As for theories, one is, the powers that be want the police to curb it, for the cross-border trade is a potential source for terror financing of banned outfits in Balochistan who seek to destabilise the country. Another one indicates this campaign may have political reasons,” notes a senior official, who is privy to government-level interaction for quite some time. The third theory indicates that the police leadership has been told that drugs trade can...