PESHAWAR, Oct 14: The government’s much-trumpeted de- weaponisation drive has hit snags as former Afghan warlords, who recently came to Peshawar after ending their self-exile in abroad are openly displaying sophisticated weapons.

Though the local administration has provided police force to these warlords, living in posh areas of the provincial capital and provide them 24-hours security cover.

Despite provision of police force by the government to these influential Afghan nationals, coming from America and European countries a couple of days back, armed their personal security guards with lethal weapons.

Deadly weapons are displayed during press conferences and meetings in the presence of national and international media. In spite of complete ban, the district administration gave free hand to former Jehadi commanders. Law enforcement agencies seem helpless to stop this prohibited practice and have no knowledge that who allowed the commanders to display arms.

Provincial Home and Tribal Affairs Department secretary, Abdul Karim Qasuria, told Dawn that the government had already cancelled all permits and permissions of keeping sophisticated weapons earlier granted to different people. However, he expressed ignorance about any special permission given to the Afghan warlords. “I have no knowledge about any such permission to the Afghan leaders for displaying arms in public,” he added.

The federal government a couple of months back imposed a ban on arms display and launched weapon recovery drive across the country. Besides, the government banned new arms licences and cancelled the existing licences.