Flouting orders: Unabashed sale of toy guns persists

Eid days see surge in business; district administrations take no action.

PESHAWAR: The sale of toy guns reached its peak across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during Eid days, even though a ban had been imposed on the practice.

Thousands of toy guns were sold and no action was taken by the district administration against those involved in the business.

In the streets and on roads, children were seen playing with toy guns even though the administrations in various districts imposed Section 144 on the display and sale of the toy.

At almost every other toy shop, toy guns ranging between Rs50 and Rs2,000 were put on display. Shopkeepers were doing the business without any fear of being arrested. The prices of toy guns were also increased during the Eid days. A few days back, Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud had ordered members of the district administration to seal the godowns of toy guns.



During the raid at least 55 warehouses were sealed while 32 people involved in the business were arrested. However, after that one raid the whole district administration seemed to have slept in ignorance.

The sale and purchase of toy guns was also witnessed in Batkhela and other areas of Malakand. A large number of people were seen buying the toys, but no action was taken against them or the sellers.

In Nowshera and Karak, children were found hurting birds and other small animals with plastic bullets of their toy guns.

Checks and balances

However, Peshawar ADC Irshad Sodhar told The Express Tribune, the district administration have kept a check. He added they arrested those found selling and buying toy guns.

Sodhar said a team disguised as locals visited godowns on tip-off and arrested those found involved in the business.

“More than 35 people are in police custody for selling replica guns,” he added.

Sodhar maintained the raids would continue even after the Eid holidays as the guns were indicators of aggressive adulthood of children.

The last few years have seen an increase in the sale of toy guns. The business is objectionable as it promotes violence and militancy. Some toy guns can also cause injuries to the children playing with them.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2016.