RAWALPINDI: A number of citizens here have demanded the Punjab government lift the ban on the issuance of non-prohibited-bore weapon licences.

The citizens said under the prevailing security situation, they wanted to keep the weapons for self-defence.

It may be noted that all automatic weapons such as Kalashnikov (AK-47) and sniper rifles are in the prohibited bore category while non-prohibited bore arms include handguns of 22 to 38 bore and riffles of .22 bore. The arms licences are issued by the district coordination officer (DCO). The ban was imposed in the province before the 2013 general elections.

After the terrorist attacks on imambargahs and minority worship places across the country, a number of citizens contacted the local administration but were not issued the licences.

“Majalis have been held in my house for the last many years but after the current wave of terrorism I wanted to keep a pistol for self defence. However, the local administration refused to issue an arms licence to me,” Syed Azhar Razi, a resident of Pindora, told Dawn.

Khurram Masood, a resident of Shamsabad, said he wanted to get an arms licence for self defence but it was not possible without the help of the local ruling party leader. He said it was the right of every citizen to get an arms licence. “Had the government been competent enough to end the sense of insecurity among the citizens, nobody would need an arms licence,” he said.

Zaheer Ahmed, a lawyer and resident of Gulistan Colony, said he wanted a licence for self defence but was informed that the government was not issuing new licences.

Raja Mudasir Advocate said the government should issue licences to the citizens, especially professionals, including lawyers, journalists and doctors, as well as minorities for self defence.

“Other provinces are issuing arms licences but the Punjab government has put a ban on it. The government should collect all illegal weapons in the province and issue licences to the citizens as it is their fundamental right,” he said.

However, some people were in favour of the ban and said it would help the government stop the trend of displaying arms in public.

“The government should recover all the weapons from the citizens if it wants to stop killings and mugging,” said Raja Tariq, a resident of Saddar.

“The issuance of arms licences to citizens is a dangerous idea. The youth and children can misuse the weapons of their parents,” said Mohammad Qamar, a resident of Chaklala Scheme-III.

When contacted, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajid Zafar Dall said there was a ban on the issuance of new arms licence except educational institutes.

“We are not issuing arms licences to individuals but to institutions due to the prevailing security situation,” he said.

“There are 125,000 licence holders in the district and the government wanted to computerise the record across the province. Under the Punjab government project with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), the revalidation process has been started from January 26 and till the end of July no new licence will be issued,” he said.

“The old arms licences will also be cancelled after February 28. Only Nadra-validated licences will be considered authentic,” he said, adding that reports about fake licences had forced the government to start the revalidation process.

He said old arms licence holders would have to submit their documents to Nadra office established in city district government complex along with a Rs1,400 fee. He said Nadra would issue the applicant a provisional letter for the next six months till the record is verified.

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2015

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