Agence France Presse

Quetta, March 14:

A group of top religious scholars in Pakistan declared the use and production of narcotics is un-Islamic as it endangers life, property and people’s honour, officials said today. The declaration, signed by about 40 leading scholars, was issued yesterday at the end of a two-day conference arranged by the Pakistan army-led Anti-Narcotics Force in Quetta. “We express our deep concern that 35,000 people are victims of the menace of drug addiction in Baluchistan province, despite the fact Islam forbids the use of all types of intoxicants, which is also against the law,” the declaration said.

“Use of intoxicants, their cultivation and production is in conflict with the objectives of Shariah (Islamic law) because it endangers life, property, honour, future generations and the wisdom of the people.” The declaration added religious scholars wanted to shun the misconception that making other products from opium, selling or storing them was something different. There are about four million drug users in Pakistan, with nearly half a million of them addicted to heroin. Anti-Narcotics Force chief Maj Gen Nadeem Ahmed earlier this month warned opium poppy production had resurfaced in some areas near the Afghan border because security forces have been busy tackling militants linked to the Al Qaeda network.