Law minister vows to reform anti-narcotics law

Azam announces inclusion of rehabilitation aspects in legislation

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday pledged to introduce reforms and changes regarding probation in the Anti-Narcotics Act during the upcoming National Assembly session, signaling proactive steps towards a comprehensive policy enhancement.

The minister announced the inclusion of rehabilitation aspects in the Anti-Narcotics Act, reflecting the government's commitment to holistic approaches in addressing drugs-related issues.

Azam was delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of ‘Reimagining Justice Conference: Public Health and Human Rights Centered Drug Policy’.

The event, organised by Justice Project Pakistan, was aimed at addressing the pressing issues surrounding the country’s drugs policy It featured the presentation of the UN body OHCHR’s report on human rights challenges in combating the global drugs problem.

In his address, the federal law minister emphasised the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders for building a better world.

He acknowledged the diverse perspectives on punishments in narcotics cases and highlighted the government's efforts to abolish the death penalty in consultation with the relevant departments as well as stakeholders.

Azam underscored the state's responsibility to ensure that no individual faced unjust penalties.
Assuring cooperation as well as coordination among governmental departments and international organisations, the minister affirmed Pakistan's commitment to working in harmony with global entities including the UN and EU to effectively tackle drugs-related challenges.

The Reimagining Justice Conference serves as a platform for meaningful dialogue as well as collaboration among policymakers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders with a shared goal of advancing human rights-centered drugs policies in Pakistan and beyond.