Drug addiction is taking deep roots in various parts of Balochistan. Though the whole of the province is the open victim of fatal drugs, Mashkay, the largest tehsil of district Awaran, is among the areas where the number of drug addicts is on the rise. Covered by the mountains in the East and southwest, with its date trees and mesmerizing landscape, Mashkay is a reflection of nature’s beauty and gorgeousness.
The tehsil, however, remained very peaceful in terms of drug addiction until 2013. From that year onward, the number of drug addicts has been taking a rising toll till today. The population of the town is mainly dependent on agriculture. Sadly, the lives of youth of Mashkay [who are already away from education] are at stake due to the increasing culture of drug addiction in the town.
It also causes mental tension among the parents towards their children’s safe and secure future. As I mentioned earlier, education remains a far cry for most of the youths, but their involvement in drugs has been very common. In a society, such as Mashkay, currently having access to drugs, is quite an easy task where the chances of social crimes are well to be increased.
Given the status quo of the situation at
Mashaky, its youths are substantially diverting towards the usage of drugs. Encountered with Abdul Basit, one of the desperate drug addicts, I felt so much pain as to why such people turn their decent lives into hell. His eyes were completely red and left thigh was swallowed due to usage of drugs through unsterilized and unhygienic syringes. Worryingly, Basit is not the only victim, a number of youths are actively taking hazardous drugs.
Due to widespread and easy availability of drugs in the town, the population is getting vulnerable and susceptible, especially the youths who are supposed to be the future of the nation. And, drug addiction is lapping the whole region inside its catastrophic shadow which is quite threatening for the future of the residents living there.
Interestingly, the people who are involved in this filthy business are fully exempted and given a free hand. As per the attitude of district police, the law seems something that cannot be applied over them. The local law enforcement agencies, police and levies forces, have done nothing so far to halt this dirty business. Over repeated times, the local population have lodged complaints regarding increasing availability of drugs in the town, the police as well as levies seem helpless in front of them. So, if they have no potential to finger in this dirty business then how come a poor resident dare to raise their voice?
In fact, a situation similar to this came across a few months ago when police raided a house of a drug dealer. As a result, as usual, the interference of a third party into the affair led to the transfer and even the man who launched the raid was attacked by the members of that guild. Aww! The person belongs to one of the most important sectors of Balochistan police – the special branch.
Police are also helpless and have no potentials to go against these people who enjoy the monopoly of third party. In such a situation, where should people of Mashkay turn their faces to? Do the district police have potentials to launch a rigid campaign against them?
Drug addiction, no doubt, poses a more serious threat than terrorism. If they [District Anti-narcotics department] cannot protect their own personnels from such people, how the hell can the people hope for their protection?
Last but not least, given the rising number of drug addicts, each passing minute must be considered a ticking bomb for the young generation. The trade union Mashkay, students, and above all, the social organizations must come forward to raise their voices in the shapes of rallies and protests against the culture of drug addiction at Mashkay. For the secure and bright future, drug addiction must be brought to a permanent end.
