Foreign missions: Diplomats not allowed to carry arms

Interior ministry placed a ban on issuing licences three months back.

ISLAMABAD: The detained US national Raymond Davis, who has been charged with killing two people in Lahore seems to be in real trouble, as the interior ministry already had a ban in place on issuing of weapons licences to foreign diplomats.

An official told The Express Tribune that the interior ministry had placed the ban some three months back and directed the agencies concerned to implement it in letter and spirit.

The official made it clear that Davis was not supposed to carry a weapon in Lahore. “According to the existing policy, the American official could use his weapon inside the consulate general for his protection not outside its premises,” he added.

He said the Punjab police have deployed guards at the US consulate-general in Lahore and the staffers were supposed to seek their services outside the consulate. The official said that the interior ministry has taken steps to ensure security of foreign diplomats in the country instead of allowing them to carry weapons.

Earlier the interior ministry used to issue no-objection-certificate (NOC) for arm licences to foreign diplomats and commissioners were authorised to issue licences in their respective jurisdictions. However, the ministry banned the practice after the media reported that some diplomats threatened police officials in the federal and provincial capitals, the official said.

“Whenever stopped at checkpoints for checking their vehicles, foreign diplomats did not show licences for their weapons, citing diplomatic immunity – much to the embarrassment of policemen manning the checkpoints,” the official added.

He said the interior ministry was also planning to create a force which would be responsible for the protection of diplomats. “The force, comprising 10,000 policemen, would protect foreigners and diplomats in the country,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th,  2011.