ISLAMABAD, 29th January 2025 (Kamran Raja): Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), in collaboration with key stakeholders, convened a high-level consultation titled Reimagining Justice: Public Health and Human Rights Centred Drug Policy at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. The event brought together leading policymakers, members of the judiciary, parliamentarians, law enforcement officials, public health experts, diplomats and civil society actors to discuss transformative reforms in Pakistan’s drug policy framework.
The consultation follows JPP’s landmark conference in April 2024, which highlighted critical issues surrounding Pakistan’s punitive drug policies and their human rights implications. With the launch of five policy briefs, today’s
event aimed to provide actionable recommendations to address these challenges and promote a human rights and public health-centered approach to drug control. The series of consultations featured remarks from
distinguished speakers, including MNA and Spokesperson for the Government on Legal Affairs Barrister Aqeel Malik, who delivered the keynote address. Other notable speakers included MNA and Parliamentary Secretary for Information and
Broadcasting Barrister Danyal Chaudhry; Ambassador of Portugal to Pakistan His Excellency Frederico Silva; Charges D’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission Daniel Arsenault; Prosecutor General Punjab Syed Farhad Ali Shah and Prosecutor
General Balochistan Jahanzeb Nasir; Country Director UNAIDS Trouble Chikoko; and UN OHCHR Human Rights and Drug Policy expert Mr. Zaved Mahmood.
In his keynote, Barrister Aqeel Malik affirmed the Government’s commitment to gradually align its drug policy with international human rights obligations contained in treaties such as the ICCPR and ICESCR. Barrister Malik
stressed the need to treat drug abuse as a public health issue, advocating for treatment and rehabilitation, and said that the Government was working steadily towards reform. Barrister Danyal Chaudhry expressed regret that the punitive
framework under CNSA 1997 disproportionately targeted the most vulnerable and marginalised of society, including women and children. Speaking as a leading lawmaker of Pakistan, he said that he would be taking the recommendations of the
consultations to Parliament His Excellency Frederico Silva highlighted the Portuguese example of health and prevention based drug policy, presenting evidence of the policy’s success including a reduction in addiction rates, fewer drug-related deaths, and
vastly improved public health outcomes.
Zaved Mahmood from UN OHCHR highlighted the global failure of the “war on drugs” and its devastating impact on human rights, particularly through oppressive and repressive policies. He commended Pakistan’s abolition of the death penalty for drug offences and called for further reforms to adopt evidence-based practices and ensure the dignity and rights of individuals are upheld.
The consultation focused on four main thematic areas:
1. A Critical Analysis of the CNSA
2. Proportionate and Effective Criminal Justice Policies in
Drug Control
3. Harm Reduction and Public Health
4. Gendered Impact of the CNSA
Presentations and interventions by expertand provided critical insights into systemic challenges and proposed evidence-based solutions. Dr. Syed Kaleem Imam, the author of the policy brief on policing under the CNSA, called for rights-based police reform, closer collaboration among criminal justice institutions, and training police officers to adopt a more rehabilitative approach, especially for students and vulnerable individuals caught with drugs.
Justice (Retd) Shahid Jamil Khan criticised mandatory minimum jail sentences under the CNSA, saying that minor offenders and persons who use drugs should be treated with a rehabilitative, not a punitive approach.Judge (Retd) Masood Khan similarly called for bail reform, the need for capacity building, and alternatives to incarceration.
The Prosecutor General Punjab highlighted the need to amend the CNSA to clearly differentiate between drug users and traffickers, ensure fair investigations, and adopt a decriminalisation model inspired by Portugal to prioritise
rehabilitation over punishment. The Prosecutor General Balochistan echoed this sentiment, and said that the root causes behind addiction must be explored and countered.
Trouble Chikoko, UNAIDS Country Director, highlighted the strong correlation between punitive drug policies and public health crises, including the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C. He urged Pakistan to scale up harm reduction services and
adopt a public health-based drug policy that addresses stigma and discrimination. The discussions also underscored the importance of adopting harm reduction measures, reducing pre-trial detention rates, and developing sentencing guidelines following the abolition of the death penalty for drug offences. The event served as a roadmap for actionable reforms, focusing on legislative reform of the CNSA, reducing prison overcrowding, ensuring gender-sensitive policies, and integrating public health and harm reduction strategies into Pakistan’s drug policy. Justice Project Pakistan reiterated its commitment to advancing evidence-based advocacy and fostering dialogue among stakeholders to reimagine justice for a healthier and more equitable society.