Karachi police on Saturday launched a crackdown against sale of toy guns, a day after Sindh home department imposed a ban on sale of such guns for two months in the metropolis, officials said.

Police carried out raids in Bolton Market and Chakiwara and seized thousands of toy guns, said City SSP Adeel Hussain Chandio.

The senior officer added that around 22 shopkeepers and traders of toy guns have been arrested.

SSP Chandio pointed out that police have received reports that such toy guns were being used by street criminals to carry out crimes.

Besides, with Eidul Fitr approaching, the sale of toy guns tend to increase manifold and mostly children buy and play with them, which sometimes leads to their eyes getting hurt accidentally. Thus, toy guns have become a public nuisance, Chandio said.

He said cases have been registered against the held suspects under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Pakistan Penal Code on behalf of the State.