BADIN: Not a single weapon declared ‘illegal’ after cancellation of 13,251 licences on May 19 has so far been deposited with the authority concerned in Badin district, it emerged on Wednesday.

According to official sources, more than 40,000 licences were issued to residents of Badin district. Under a Supreme Court order, issued amid an increase in acts of terrorism and other criminal activities across the country over the years, a verification process was initiated in October 2013 and every licence-holder was required to get his licence revalidated through a computerised verification system.

The task was assigned to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), which established its window at the offices of deputy commissioners across the province.

The sources said that around 22,500 licences were verified at the Badin DC’s office and nearly 5,000 others were transferred to the legal heirs of the actual licence-holders, who have since died. The revalidation deadline was extended for three times before the final one passed off on May 19.

The sources said that 13,251 licence-holders never turned up to get their licences verified or validated and, as such, they were cancelled.

The district administration has said it is now preparing a list of the invalidated arms and their cancelled licences which will be submitted with the home department for appropriate action.

Meanwhile, the authorities concerned are also looking into reports that a large number of people were issued fake licences allegedly by officials/employees of the department concerned. A scrutiny of record is being held to ascertain the names of politicians, bureaucrats and other influential figures on whose recommendation the (genuine) licences have been issued over a certain period.

A revenue official said that the process was being pursued strictly in view of intelligence reports about use of illegal arms in strengthening militants in the rural areas of the province. In some instances, he said, extra names were added to the list of those recommended for arms licences by an authorised official.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

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