ISLAMABAD: An alleged gang of narcotics dealers attempted to kill a man who was raising awareness on drug addiction, Dawn has learnt.

Police said the victim, Mohammad Waseem, operates an office and clinic in G-7/1 where for the last couple of years he has provided drug addiction treatment. He also held gatherings to raise awareness among the public.

Police said a group of drug dealers allegedly raided his office and shot him before fleeing. Mr Waseem contacted Rescue 15 and was taken to a hospital. A case was later registered against the attackers with the Aabpara police on attempted murder charges.

Mr Waseem told Dawn he and a few others had been working against drug dealers and peddlers in Ramna, Shalimar and the G-6, G-7 and G-8 sectors for the last couple of years.

He said drugs are available in slums and markets in these areas, and dealers and peddlers also deliver drugs on call.

He said their efforts had decreased the drug business, particularly when it came to heroin and marijuana, gradually. Such efforts were causing the area’s drug dealers and peddlers losses of Rs200,000 a day in just G-7, he claimed.

“We meet with addicts and their families and create awareness among them about addiction,” he said. Addicts are also provided treatment with the help of philanthropists.

He said local elders and the police have also been invited to discussions and to the awareness campaign, and police were provided details of drug dealers and peddlers to act against them. Mr Waseem said drug users were also a source of information against dealers and peddlers, and information was collected from them to identify vulnerable areas and devise strategies.

“Our campaign against drugs and those dealing in them make enemies who frequently threatened us with dire consequences,” he said. He alleged that a member of a gang had come to his house and verbally abused him and left after he objected.

A few hours later, they raided his office and fired at him, resulting in a bullet injury, he said.

The Aabpara police, when contacted, said a case has been registered and an investigation is ongoing. Efforts are in progress to trace and arrest those nominated in the FIR they added.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2018