Crackdown: ‘9,233 illicit weapons seized in 10 days’

Minister asks citizens to renew weapon licences until Feb 28.

LAHORE: Home Minister Shuja Khanzada said on Thursday 9,233 illicit weapons had been seized during a general hold-up over 10 days. He said 365 cases had been registered over display of arms.

The minister was chairing a meeting to review progress on the National Action Plan against terrorism. Several police officers and heads of agencies were also present.

He said licences of 55 guns, including three Kalashnikov rifles and 20 pistols, had been cancelled. He said citizens could renew arms licences, issued between 2009 and 2014, from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) until February 28.



He said new licences would be issued at the end of February. He said an applicant would be issued a licence within 15 days of submission of an application.

Khanzada said the record of weapon holders and dealers would be verified through the NADRA. He said cases against those possessing illicit weapons would be heard by anti-terrorism courts. They could be sentenced for up to 14 years, he said.

The minister said security of schools across the province had been tightened. He said teams of army and police had been deployed on strategic points to respond to any emergency within seven minutes. He appealed to citizens to dial 15 or 1717 in case of an emergency.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2015.