ISLAMABAD: In a notable ruling aimed at discouraging drug peddlers from seeking refuge under bail, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday rejected the bail petition of a man arrested on serious narcotics charges, including the possession of heroin and crystal meth.
A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, dismissed the petition after hearing the counsel for the accused named Waleed, who failed to convince the court that bail should be granted.
During the hearing, Justice Afghan raised concerns over the rushed nature of the appeal, questioning the speed with which the accused had sought bail following his arrest.
The defence counsel argued that his client had been detained in the midst of a domestic dispute, with the narcotics charges allegedly added later by the police.
However, Justice Afghan questioned why the police had intervened in what was described as a domestic matter, while Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim expressed scepticism over how a simple altercation could escalate to the point of heroin being allegedly planted.
“Who would place a kilogram of heroin during a domestic quarrel,” Justice Afghan questioned, highlighting the implausibility of such a scenario.
The court was informed that the charges against the accused included the recovery of one kilogram of heroin and 120 grams of crystal meth.
The defence also pointed out that there were no private witnesses or video evidence to support the police’s version of events.
However, Justice Afghan made it clear that such arguments were more suitable for trial proceedings than for a bail hearing.
He directed the police to submit a formal challan by the next hearing and urged the trial court to expedite proceedings in the case.
The narcotics case against the accused was filed by the Islamabad Police in September this year.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Comments