KARACHI: The Sindh government on Tuesday imposed a three-month ban on display of licensed weapons across the province. A notification issued here stated that the ban, imposed with immediate effect, shall not be applicable to the personnel of law enforcement agencies during their duty hours.

The notification, issued by Additional Chief Secretary-Home Muhammad Iqbal Memon, also allowed guards of registered private security companies to carry weapons at their places of duty during duty hours. However, they were not allowed to display / brandish the weapons during movement in vehicles.

The guards shall not display their weapons while patrolling or performing duty in open spaces, the notification said, adding that they shall make sure that there was no unwarranted display of weapons that might create a sense of insecurity among the general public.

The SHOs of police stations concerned were directed to register complaint under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code for the violation of Section 144 of the criminal procedure code that imposed the ban on arms display.

The home department also asked DIGs to send a fortnightly report regarding implementation or violation of the ban.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2024