SHC seeks Sindh govt, IG’s reply on returning of confiscated Gutka, Mainpuri

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought reply from the Sindh government and inspector general of police on alleged practice of returning back confiscated Gutka, Mainpuri and Mawa by police, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

During a hearing of petition against sale and making of Gutka, Mainpuri and Mawa, the SHC has given the provincial government until April 30 to respond in this regard.

The petitioner blamed that police officials sold or returned the seized contraband items.

Upon which the court inquired from the Sindh government that what measures it was taking to stop the illicit trade.

“What legislation has been made by the Sindh government in this regard,” the high court wondered adding that police could do nothing else unless the law was amended.

Read More: Food authority seizes over 300,000 packets of gutka in Faisalabad

The public prosecutor said it needed to be reviewed whether any such thing could be categorized as a narcotic.

The court said the society could not get rid of this curse, until laws were made stricter.

In November last year, the SHC had expressed dissatisfaction over ‘police crackdown’ on tobacco sellers and sought comprehensive report in this regard.

Hearing the case about sale of gutka across the city, the SHC bench had asked the police counsel to furnish evidence that crackdown was bearing fruits.

The court had said: “how long it will take to initiate action against gutka sellers?”.