The writer is a health, safety and environment consultant
The problem is not beyond the institutional capacity of Pakistan. The state has never made a serious, consolidated and scientific attempt to combat violence. The well-protected ruling class operating out of Constitution Avenue does not seem inclined to put their money where their mouth is. Consider the facts to understand how a ruling elite can themselves be the biggest reason for the promotion of crime and militancy in Pakistan.
The Supreme Court, in its suo-motu case 16/2011, concluded that the federal government issued 46,114 licences of prohibited bore and 1,202,470 licences of non-prohibited bore in the past five years. Not to be left behind, the Sindh government admitted to issuing another 400,000 gun licences. It was equally incredible to read reports of the grant of 69,000 prohibited bore licences to the members of the National Assembly — an average of over 300 lethal licences per “peace-loving” MNA. Raja Pervez Ashraf, defying the Election Commission’s ban, gifted 288 weapon licences to his party workers. Even the most benign looking “caretaker” prime minister, hours before his departure from the PM House, approved one prohibited and four non-prohibited bore gun licences for himself and his cabinet ministers.
What is overlooked is that the distribution of millions of gun licences (intended as bribe) is only partly reflected in official records. Little is known of millions of licences that were faked, sold illegally, not documented or simply issued and the registers declared as lost. Fake gun dealers, using fake documents, procured thousands of prohibited bore gun licences and sold them in the open market for up to Rs100,000 each. In May 2013, two NADRA directors were arrested for their connivance in issuing illegal arms licences. The racket of the licence issuance process was exposed by five Karachi citizens who, in January 2013, used their “right to information” to demand full details of all weapons issued by the federal and the provincial governments since 2001. That information was illegally concealed and has not been provided so far.
So, when the new PM orders a review of 34,000 weapons licences, he is only scratching the tip of the iceberg. The recently announced ban on the issuance of new weapon licences is equally superficial as there are already enough of them around to kill every Pakistani twice and yet be available for other errands.
Pakistan’s survival is deeply linked to its capacity for taking a number of urgent, forceful, well-coordinated and well-planned measures. Begin by striking down the Arms Ordinance. Withdraw all gun licences and announce a phased programme for the surrender of all weapons. No individual, regardless of rank or status, must be allowed to issue, use, possess, carry or display a weapon or explosive of any class. Break the link between vehicles and militancy by registering (or alternatively impounding) thousands of vehicles that are smuggled, stolen, or do not carry the standard officially issued number plates. These are the ones that are engaged in crime, kidnapping, smuggling and bomb blasts.
All this can no longer be possible by the police or the Rangers. It may be inevitable to task the army to undertake this massive operation — to purge the country of all kinds of weapons, their possessors, suppliers and sponsors. Will the ruling elite and the political parties continue to remain a hurdle in the path of peace by their unwillingness to say farewell to their own armouries?
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (24)
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If the army had the ability to remove all weapons they would have the ability to remove the Taliban - seems pretty clear that neither is going to happen.
Sir,
With all due respect, your suggestion to confiscate legal arms will only help criminal elements.
We do not live in an ideal world; our LEAs are barely able to provide protection to the common man and are more occupied with "under the table" earnings or protection of VIPs. E.g. a couple of years ago a report published in a reputable English paper informed readers that a staggering 60% of Sindh police resources are used for protection of VIPs. In such an environment, normal citizens should at least have the option of acquiring a firearm for self-protection. As Mr. Hamza has pointed out, if criminals know that law-abiding citizens have the right to retaliate then they will definitely hesitate. My recommendation to everyone would be to keep a firearm in their house or conceal carry it, train with it to know how it functions and god-forbid if the need arises, do not hesitate to use it.
I would rather suggest that all citizens should be allowed to purchase and carry at least 1 legal non-prohibited bore firearm just by virtue of getting themselves registered with NADRA, i.e., the CNIC should serve as a licence. Any additional weapons for sporting should be routed through another process.
It is not the weapons which are to be blamed, it is the LEAs who do not enforce the law in letter and spirit. Illegal weapons are used in crimes not the licensed ones. It is the right of every free citizen to bear arms for his family's and property's defence. In a country like ours where the protection of common man is non existent, the right of self defence can not be taken away. The writer has referred to the tribal areas as law less areas because of weapons where as its the other way round, thefts, rapes etc are negligible in those areas. When the attacker knows that he might have to back his actions by his life he would think thrice before attacking someone's honor or property. Legal arms for the protection of the mango man are recommended.
I regret to see that in a black world of today, economic hardships and increasing crime rates, the Writer here still thinks pink and lives somewhere in pink clouds and with a wild imagination of an ideal world, as if Adam and Eve's journey to the world still was only being contemplated as yet? Adam is HERE, and so is BLOOD, so step out of your pink world and let respectable people own the rights to defend their honour with legal weapons, while nothing stops you from taking the role of an idle bystander, if God forbid, your house and honour should become a night's pleasure for the uninvited street bums and Jack-the-ripper gangs of today.
The right to carry weapons for self defense should article 1 of constitution, and it is the illegal weapons and manufacture out there that should be focused on, since this is what criminals have easy access to.
Regards
Hi dear writer can u tell me that have u any magical powers that you can take legal weapons from people who are law abiding citizens and after that all criminals and militants would lay down their weapons and they will say oh yes now we will stop this nosense?dear we are living in a sociaty where you need to protect your respect especially the women from culprits,when a women is raped in our country do u know what happens after that with that poor fellow for taking justice i think you live in some kind of "ideal imagination.Do you know our beloved and founder of this country M.Ali Jinnah also owned a 0.22 pistol i have a copy of his licence if you want to see and then who gave u the right as a writer to ask Govt. to take the right of self defence from the people?the right of self defence is natural right of every living creature on the earth you can not take it from any one also people can b killed without using any firearm so my suggestion to u is please comcentrate on other topics inspite of hurting the feelings of people like us who always feel insecure and know how to defend themselves.Please come out of your "ideal imagination" and be in realistic Pakistan.
Switzerland has largest civil ownership of "Assault Rifles", the gun related crime is almost zero. UAE, the most peaceful state, has average 3 firearms per person (locals), gun crime rate is zero. Saudi Arabia has one of largest civil ownership of guns, gun related crime are almost zero. Netherlands and Germany also have significant gun ownerships, the gun crime rate is almost zero.
The problem is not with weapons but with implementation of law. Do you think criminals need licenses? Is there any data available which shows how many licensed gun were involved in crime vs illegal guns used? No, you don't have any! So, first gather the date and see for yourself.
@Sohrab Karboy: Thanks for telling and asking. The point, I guess, I'm trying to make is addressed to ourselves, all inclusive, and that's we must collective put in serious efforts to rid ourselves of this sense of insecurity and, fear, the general anthrophobia. If we do wish a healthy society for ourselves and our children then we must over come the prevailing anxiety and polarization. Of course, such a sense of belonging and ownership needs to be inculcated through organized efforts and all must contribute with same message of solidarity and togetherness, right from families, KG to schools, coleges, madarsas, mostques, media (print & radio and tv) and political leadership and other opinion makers in various communities, ethnic groups and mohallas.
Uza: very well said. The only thing I am not sure about is your last sentence, where you say: "Cure this social malady and you sort out the issue of guns and killings etc." Whom are you directing this pleading to???? In all probability, you are just exclaiming the solution to the ailment. Generally, formula for social change in progressive societies has been 1. Identification of the problem, 2. Movement by proponents of change. And, ultimately 3. Masses revolving around the leadership to cause change. In a society that has produced Iqbal, Jinnah, and Faiz, it is inconceivable that this will not happen one day. Just do not know when:
isii sabab se falak kaa gilaa nahii.n karate tere firaaq men ham dil buraa nahii.n karate Gar aaj tujhase judaa hai.n to kal baham ho.nge ye raat bhar kii judaaii to koii baat nahii.n Gar aaj auj pe hai taala-e-raqiib to kyaa ye chaar din kii Khudaaii to koii baat nahii.n (Faiz)
Thus we do not blame the heavens Nor let bitterness seed in our hearts
We are separated today, but one day shall be re-united This separation that will not last beyond tonight, bears lightly on us Today the power of our exalted rivals may touch the zenith But these four days of omniscience too shall pass (My apologies; I do not know who the translator is.)
Sir, we have guns because we feel we need them. Why do we need them because we feel we are threatened. Who do we feel threatened by---- everyone who is a bit different than ourselves. Who are they, who do we consider a bit different than ourselves---- Well, they are Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Pathans, Balochs, Seraikis, Kthivaris, Memons, Bohris, Sunnis, Shias, Ismailis, Ahmedis etcetera etcetera etcetera. Why is this so, because we have been prevented to become a people, ours is a society that is built on so much of divisive and fake ancestries, we are not one and it's always been "Us" vs. "Them". We suffer from social anxiety, kind of a phobia of anyone who is different in anyway whatsoever. We collective suffer from an accute xenophobia and thus require some means in our control to ensure protection. Cure this social malady and you sorted out the issue of guns and killings etc.
In Peshawar guns are openly manufactured. How many are manufactured in villages throughout KP we just don't know.
@jssidhoo: Sir on that I couldn't have agreed more - if private ownership in India can be brought down to zero, that would be ideal
@Bilal Durrani: why not try giving up the weapon in exchange for peace,education and stability. Guns are not a substitute for the abovementioned
@Bilal Durrani: Bilal Sahib these weapons are a western invention so though your ancestors may have had weapons in the last century or so they are not part of your original culture .What has this gun culture given you other than a unequal, unsafe society and maybe a macho feeling . But macho feelings do not feed hungry mouths peace does.My two bits for your consideration .
@Indian: I was not comparing the statistics of the two countries just expressing my wish that we in India should be rid of private ownership of weapons . This would reduce crime and the power of the criminals .
I am a Puhktoon and no Puhktoon will ever give up his weapon. Just try an take our weapons and you will have a civil war.
@ Naeem Sadiq: Though you are spot on in your analysis I believe you do not go to the whole length when you say "The state has never made a serious, consolidated and scientific attempt to combat violence." Fact is the extremists have been founded, armed, trained, financed, aided, and abetted by the Pakistani establishment as an integral part of their strategic policy. Whether they do this, or did in the past, at the behest of and with full help and support of the Americans and the Saudis and others is actually immaterial. Those who are lucid in their vision, for example, Ayesha Siddiqa, do not seem to be confused about this phenomenon. That is also the reason the international community, including India, does not give any credulity to Pakistan's position.
Having an opinion upon matters is the right of any free man, and so is the right to bear arms. A healthy society would be one in which equality prevails, when the people have access to illegal/unregistered weapons why is it that the common populace is denied their right to legally acquire arms to defend themselves and their loved ones.
Instead of denying the right to bear arms the responsible should come up with stiff laws to counter the sale and purchase of illegal arms and a general display of all sorts of arms even the one's being held on the back of those big Trucks. And allowing the law abiding enthusiasts to carry on their love for firearms for the means of sports and recreation.
@jssidhu: Sidhu Saab Ghustakhi Maaf but I think there is only one fundamental difference between India and Pakistan - the percolation of firearms (4.2 v/s 11.6 per 100). In everything else, most relevantly the Millenium development goals like population below poverty line, Infant mortality, child malnutrition, illiteracy, GINI coefficient etc India is in the same band as Pakistan, despite having uninterrupted democracy, rule of law etc.
@jssidhoo: "...... i wish it was implemented in India also. However i am sure that the politician criminal nexus will not allow it to happen in either country ." . Agreed. There is a lot which is commonly shared, on either side of the border.
very very well said !!
A very good idea , i wish it was implemented in India also. However i am sure that the politician criminal nexus will not allow it to happen in either country .
who needs a gun licence?
To Naeem Sadiq:
The state has never made a serious, consolidated and scientific attempt to combat violence. The well-protected ruling class operating out of Constitution Avenue does not seem inclined to put their money where their mouth is. Consider the facts to understand how a ruling elite can themselves be the biggest reason for the promotion of crime and militancy in Pakistan.
I disagree totally. Ruling elite are doing what people of Pakistan want them to do and that is why they get elected over and over again. We have already seen a glimpse of such support during elections of 2013. People supporting such ruling elites are more responsible than any one else.