October 18, 2007	Thursday	Shawwal 5, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: The government has imposed ban on carrying weapons with a view to ensure peace during the forthcoming general elections in the country.

“In order to ensure peaceful and tranquil environment devoid of any violence, it is imperative to impose this ban,” interior ministry spokesman Brig (retired) Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Wednesday.

However, he made it clear that security forces personnel in uniform would be exempted from the ban. “Police and security personnel in civvies will not be allowed to carry weapons,” he said.

“The ban will also apply to licensed weapons. Nobody, no matter how influential he may be, will be allowed to carry or display weapons,” Brig Cheema said.

The government had already imposed ban on display of even licensed weapons in the country but there was no restriction on carrying them.

The official said the provincial governments had been directed to immediately launch a drive against carrying and displaying of weapons. “The ban shall be implemented in letter and spirit and the bottom line is zero tolerance for carrying and brandishing of weapons,” he said.

Responding to a question, he said: “Violators will be arrested and prosecuted under the law and in this connection provincial governments have been asked to send a daily report to the ministry.”

TRIBAL AREAS SITUATION: Talking about law and order situation in Waziristan, he said normalcy was returning there, as infrastructure and roads had been opened for the public.

He expressed the hope that all the security personnel taken hostage would be released soon.

SAARC CONFERENCE: The spokesman said the 6th Saarc conference on cooperation in police matters followed by the meeting of Saarc interior and home secretaries and interior and home ministers would be held in New Delhi on October 23, 24 and 25, respectively.

He said Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Secretary Syed Kamal Shah would represent Pakistan in the conference.

The conference will focus on institutionalising the mechanism for greater interaction and cooperation with regard to regional cooperation to fight terrorism, organised crimes and money laundering.

He said a meeting of focal points of Saarc terrorist offences monitoring desk and Saarc drug offences monitoring desk would be held in Islamabad on October 20.