Pakistan

G-B govt cancels all weapon permits

Scores of people, including clerics and politicians, had earlier been issued permits to carry arms.

Shabbir Mir February 18, 2011

GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan government has cancelled all weapon permits, mainly issued to prominent personalities across the region.

“A notification to this effect has been issued by the home secretary,” an official of the district administration told The Express Tribune on Thursday.

He said that the decision was part of the drive for deweaponising the territory which has been affected by sectarian violence in the past.

At the All Parties Conference (APC) held in Gilgit in December last year, it was decided that all permits issued to various figures, including religious and political, among others, would be cancelled.

“The decision will become effective from Thursday onwards in all seven districts of Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said, adding that violators would be dealt with severely.

According to another district administration official, scores of people, including clerics and politicians, had earlier been issued permits to carry arms. He said that the beneficiaries also belonged to ‘peaceful areas’ like Skardu and Ghizer district.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2011.