PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Monday dismissed petitions challenging the increase in arms licence issuance and renewal fees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The judgment was announced by Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Inamullah Khan.

The court observed that judicial intervention in government policy matters was limited and could only be exercised when an illegal act or a violation of fundamental rights was proven. The court held that no such grounds were established in the present case.

The petitioners, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rifle Association, argued that the increase of more than 100 per cent in arms licence fee was unlawful. They contended that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Arms Act, 2013, was being used as a means of revenue generation rather than for regulatory purposes.

Additional Advocate General Taimur Khan informed the court that the KP Arms Act, 2013, and the Arms Rules, 2014, authorised the government to regulate the licensing system and determine related fees. He stated that the fee increase had been approved by the provincial cabinet and was therefore legally valid.

The court further remarked that arms licensing was not merely an administrative matter but was closely linked to public safety. It emphasised that the state had a responsibility to prevent the misuse of weapons and noted that the licensing system should be made even more stringent to ensure public security.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd , 2026