September 05, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 04, 1429

PESHAWAR, Sept 4: The NWFP Assembly on Thursday demanded authorising district coordination officers to issue licence of prohibited weapons to people for self-protection in the wake of deteriorating law and order situation in the province.

The issue was raised in the house by independent MPA Taj Mohammad Khan through a call-attention notice, saying the government should lift the ban on issuance of licence of prohibited weapons.

The demand was supported by MPA Israrullah Khan Gandapur of the PPP-S, who said the allowed weapons were useless against sophisticated weapons used by outlaws.

NWFP Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour said the government wanted to allow people to keep latest weapons for self-protection while keeping in view the poor law and order situation in the province. However, he added, the provincial government was not authorised to allow DCOs to issue licence of such weapons. He said the list of prohibited and non-prohibited weapons was released by the Federal Interior Ministry.

Provincial Minister for Labour Sher Azam Khan also supported the demand.— APP