District judges directed to ensure compliance with the order, submit a report to the SHC member inspection team
Sindh High Court. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the transfer of thousands of pending cases registered under the Sindh Control of Narcotic Substances (CNS) Act, 2024, to the five newly constituted special courts in Karachi.
According to an official communication issued by SHC Member Inspection Team-II, Muhammad Jahangir Khan, on the directions of the chief justice, all district and sessions judges in Karachi South, East, West, Central and Malir have been instructed to ensure the transfer of the pending drug cases to the Special Courts constituted under Article 30 (Establishment of Special Court) of the CNS Act.
The letter seen by The Express Tribune outlined that the cases have been transferred to CNS Courts-I, II, IV, V and VI, Karachi in accordance with the territorial jurisdiction. The letter further directed the district judges to ensure compliance with the order and submit a report to Khan.
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The development follows changes to the provincial narcotics law after the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997 was repealed on October 15, 2024, and replaced by the Sindh CNS Act, 2024.
According to authorities, all cases registered under the latest act have been transferred to the new courts, including four cases registered against alleged Cocaine Queen Anmol alias Pinky.
Under the new arrangement, remand proceedings in newly registered cases will also be conducted before the CNS courts. Interim and final charge sheets in both new and pending cases will also be submitted to these courts.
It is worth noting that under the new law, the government can establish narcotics control police stations, check posts and check points to eliminate the menace of drug trafficking. It also provides stricter punishments alongside safeguards, such as video evidence in cases, to protect the rights of citizens.
Article 17, clause 2 of the law states, “The video recording of all raids, seizures, inspections and arrests shall be made by the officer in charge of such operations.”
