DHA Karachi enjoys high reputation for its well managed and regulated housing schemes. Sadly, this environment has been destroyed by hundreds of armed individuals and groups, who live, roam about and menacingly drive around in DHA.

These highly-armed individuals and militant groups, often accompanied by hooded goons, blatantly carry and display weapons in their vehicles and in front of their homes. Many have pitched permanent tents, containers or pickets on public spaces. At places the DHA looks more like a war zone and less like a housing society.

I urge the DHA to take the following initiatives and become the first gun-free housing society:

Declare the entire DHA a weapon-free zone. No citizen, regardless of his rank or status, must be allowed to possess, carry, sell, store or display weapon, licensed or otherwise. Place newspaper/TV advertisements and large banners at prominent locations to announce these conditions.

Armed guards, individuals or groups in front of any house, in any street or any vehicle within the DHA premises should not be permitted.

Gun fire originating from any house, regardless of the occasion, should be considered a violation of DHA rules and the resident would run the risk of cancellation of lease to the said property.

Residents should be asked to remove all tents, road blocks, barriers and armed guards outside their gates within two weeks. Residents who do not comply should be heavily fined and their DHA membership revoked.

All transfer, gift and purchase of homes, plots, and shops must include an affidavit to abide by the gun control rules.

Naeem Sadiq

Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

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