March 19, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1429

KARACHI, March 18: The Sindh government has lifted a ban on the issuance of arms licences with immediate effect.

The ban was imposed on Nov 19, 2007 throughout the province when the federal interior ministry had slapped a ban after reports that a large number of people had applied for arms licences in the wake of terror threats.

The interior ministry, fearing that the arms licences could be used during the upcoming general elections for display of weapons during electioneering, which could result in serious clashes among supporters of rival camps.

The ban followed the Sindh government decision to launch a de-weaponisation campaign in the province which was, according to the police, a major cause of unrest and violence by emerging outlaws and underworld operatives in different parts of the province, Karachi in particular.

But in view of various political considerations as the caretaker government could not take strict action in accordance with the law, the campaign that was supposed to be launched in three phases failed to produce any result even in its first phase seeking voluntary surrender of unlicensed weapons.

In the aftermath of the Dec 27, 2007 tragedy, in which PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, outlaws and anti-social elements destroyed private and public properties worth billion of rupees. It highlighted the need to allow people to own arms, as a few people carrying arms had escaped from plunderers, officials at the home department said.

Besides, they added, the policy of restricting the issuance of arms licences had failed to help improve law and order and curb the growing street crimes.