In Brief
Rafiq Qureshi was convicted under Section 21(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for possessing 609.6 gm of heroin (commercial quantity). The trial court sentenced him to 18 years' imprisonment, reduced to 16 years by the High Court based on the large quantity. The Supreme Court resolved a key interpretive issue: whether courts can impose punishment above the statutory minimum only when factors listed in Section 32B(a)-(f) are present. The Court held that Section 32B permits courts to consider any relevant factors beyond those enumerated, including the quantity of the substance. Finding the appellant was merely a carrier, the Court reduced the sentence to 12 years while maintaining conviction, partly allowing the appeal.
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