Counter Narcotics Minister summoned to House of People

Afghan Parliament has summoned Salamat Azimi, Minister of Counter Narcotics, to provide justification on the increment of addicts and drug dealers.

Nasima Nayazi a member of the House from southern Helmand province, said: “The Deputy Minister of counter narcotics is responsible for increment of poppy cultivation, and officials are only travelling to provinces to earn money.”

Nazir Ahmad Hanafi another member of the House representing Herat, added: “There is no indication showing efforts taken to eradicate drugs, poppy cultivation is in everywhere not only in area under direct control of the Taliban.”

Counter Narcotics Minister expressed her concerns about the increment o addicts said that we do not have enough medical centers to hospitalize all addicts.

“With one hundred and eight medical centers we cannot hospitalize all addicts, because about 3.5 million addicts have been estimated in the country.”

Most of the lawmakers left the House without hearing the answers, but the House Speaker said that the counter narcotic minister justifications were not satisfactory and they need to develop a comprehensive policy in cooperation with other related institutions to resolve all problems.

Reported by: Abdul Aziz Karimi