19-year jail term, Rs100m fine for sale of illegal drug

Rawalpindi Drug Court has sentenced a man to 19-years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs10 million for illegal sale of drugs, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday. 

Judge Muhammad Faisal Butt of the Drug Court pronounced the sentenced to Naseem Masih with 19 years of rigorous imprisonment besides a fine of Rs100 million. 

According to court proceedings, five years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 40 million were handed down for the illegal sale of medicines. The court ruled that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional 15 months in jail. 

In a separate charge concerning the sale of confiscated banned drugs, the court sentenced Masih to two years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs500,000, with three additional months of imprisonment if the fine is not paid. 

Under Section 28(1) of the Drug Act, the judge awarded 10 years’ imprisonment along with a hefty fine of Rs60 million. Non-payment will lead to a further two years in jail. 

Additionally, under Section 3 of the Drug Act, the accused received two years in jail and a fine of Rs500,000, with three more months of imprisonment if the amount remains unpaid. The court’s decision shows that the government is taking strong action against the illegal sale of medicines to protect public health and enforce the law.