PESHAWAR: A 30-year-old father of three has allegedly died after being subjected to abuse at a private drug rehabilitation centre in Peshawar, prompting a police investigation and renewed concerns over conditions at rehabilitation facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The deceased, identified as Nihal, was undergoing treatment at the Good Will Welfare Foundation, a rehabilitation centre located in Ashrafia Colony, Faqirabad.

According to the victim's family, the centre handed over his body to an ambulance crew on Saturday without informing them. They alleged that the ambulance staff were not provided with the family's address and spent several hours searching for the deceased's home before finally locating it.

Speaking to Tribal News Network (TNN), Nihal's father, Ziarat Gul, said his son had been admitted to the centre because of cannabis addiction. He added that Nihal was unemployed and had hoped to overcome his addiction and rebuild his life.

The family said they had been paying a monthly fee of Rs10,000 for his treatment.

Ziarat Gul further alleged that during family visits, Nihal repeatedly complained of being physically abused inside the facility. However, the rehabilitation centre's management allegedly dismissed those complaints and asked the family not to take them seriously.

According to the family, Nihal had previously worked in Japan and later in Dubai. He is survived by his three children and was living with his parents and family in Madina Colony, Nimra Town, Bashirabad.

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The family has submitted a complaint to Faqirabad police station. Police officials said a criminal case would be registered against the owner of the rehabilitation centre after the post-mortem report is received. Investigators are also examining forensic evidence and recording statements from the victim's relatives.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over the functioning of rehabilitation centres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Similar allegations of abuse, poor facilities and mistreatment of drug-dependent patients have surfaced against several centres in recent years.

Documents available with TNN show that more than Rs515 million has been spent under the Drug-Free Peshawar campaign over the past four years. Of this, Rs75 million was spent during 2021–22, Rs114 million during Phase II, and Rs326 million during Phase III on rehabilitation programmes.

However, a special audit report by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Social Welfare Department found serious irregularities during Phase III. The report said none of the rehabilitation centres had dedicated detoxification or rehabilitation wards, laboratory facilities were unavailable, recreational space was inadequate, and bathroom conditions were unsatisfactory.

The audit also revealed that between 55 and 80 patients were accommodated in a single hall, HIV-positive patients were housed alongside other patients, and the number of beds and rooms was lower than officially reported.

The report further cited evidence of physical abuse, inadequate food, and the absence of qualified psychologists at the rehabilitation centres.

Following Nihal's death, the Social Welfare Department and district administration sealed the Good Will Welfare Foundation and launched an inquiry into the incident.

Repeated attempts to obtain the rehabilitation centre's version of events were unsuccessful.

Nihal's family has appealed to the provincial government to ensure a transparent investigation and provide justice for the deceased.