ISLAMABAD: National Assembly (NA) passed Control of Narcotics Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to abolish death penalty for drug-related offences.

Bill was part of supplementary agenda and moved by Minister of State for Law and Justice Shahadat Awan in house.

Statement of objects and reasons of bill says that in section 9(c) of Control of Narcotics Substances Act, 1997 (CNSA) punishment of death is proposed to be substituted with imprisonment for life. Death penalty is used in disproportionate manner under CNSA that violates fundamental right to live which happens to be most basic of all human rights.

Risk of executing innocent people in narcotics cases exists and arbitrary application of death penalty can never be ruled out under said law, it added. In September this year, President Dr Arif Alvi assented to Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which provides death or life imprisonment for offences related to illicit trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic drugs of varying quantity, including heroin, morphine, cocaine and methamphetamine (ICE). Act provides for maximum punishment if offence involving narcotic drug or psychotropic substance is committed inside or near school, college, university, educational setting or any other educational institution.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 21 2022

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