KARACHI: Following reports of the seizure of unlicensed arms and ammunition in huge quantities in Peshawar, Police conducted surprise raids at various arms and ammunition shops in the City yesterday [Oct 12].

Stock-taking was undertaken during the raids to find out whether arms and ammunition had been sent out of Karachi. Police was guarding the arms and ammunition shops in view of the stock-taking and, therefore, there was hardly any sale of arms yesterday. — Correspondent

[An agency report from Peshawar adds,] The Peshawar Police have seized over one thousand rifles, 2.5 lakh prohibited bore rounds and eight lakh non-prohibited bore rounds of ammunition from railway stations and various goods forwarding firms in their recent haul, according to the details officially released ... today [Oct 12].

An official handout said the crimes branch of the Police took action after making thorough investigation.... The seized arms and ammunition lay at these places unreceived by the consignees for about ten months. The handout said that for some time past, the crimes branch had information that smuggling of arms was going on from Peshawar to the adjacent tribal areas. In order to check this illicit trade, a trap was arranged on Sept 29....

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2020