ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: Arms licences to be issued by interior ministry from Monday onwards would be valid for five years instead of one, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference after visiting offices of the National Database and Registration Authority, the minister directed Nadra officials to clear the backlog of arms licences within a week.
He said that particulars of each applicant must be verified and prescribed forms should be used for the purpose.
Answering a question, Mr Malik denied playing any role in the fleeing abroad of former chief of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) Tauqir Sadiq. He also rejected the allegation that he was part of the five-member committee which had appointed Mr Sadiq as Ogra chief.
“I offer myself for accountability and if it is proved that I was a member of that committee, I will not only resign my ministry but also quit politics,” he remarked.
The file containing the summary for placement of Mr Sadiq’s name on the Exit Control List was submitted to him on Jan 19 last year, Mr Malik said. The file was cleared the very next day.
“His name is still on the ECL. But if he has fled through illegal means using the porous border nobody can be held responsible,” the minister said.
A case was registered against Mr Sadiq for illegally fleeing the country on his orders, he said.
Mr Malik, however, said he was not duty-bound to place a name on the ECL merely on the recommendations of the National Accountability Bureau and on the basis of general allegations. “Before restricting the movement of someone I have to be sure that I am not violating that person’s rights. Also, I have to be sure that there is substantial evidence against the accused.”
When asked about the progress made with respect to the order of the Supreme Court, which had asked the interior ministry to proceed against politicians and army officers mentioned in the Asghar Khan case, Mr Malik said considerable work had been completed in this regard. “It was an order of the apex court and we are proceeding ahead accordingly.”
About the death of NAB investigator Kamran Faisal, he said he was determined to get to the bottom of the matter. He welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to investigate the death.
The minister revealed that the government was mulling a proposal to declare the act of staying away from the voting process an offence. He said there were many countries in which abstaining from the process was regarded as an offence.
Pointing out that up to 60 per cent of the people do not cast their vote during general election, he said there should be a minor punishment for such an ‘offence’.
The cellphone companies had been asked to install biometric machines at their outlets, Mr Malik said. If this was done, the companies would be able to read the biometric data of the people applying for SIMs. But the companies should not be allowed to store the data.
After the press conference, Nadra chairman Tariq Malik told Dawn that all arms licences issued from Monday onwards would be valid for five years. The fee for applying for the licences remained unchanged.