We're concerned at decision of government to remove ban on issuance of prohibited and non-prohibited weapons licences
KARACHI: As members of Citizens Against Weapons, striving for a peaceful and weapon-free society in Pakistan, we are deeply concerned at the recent decision of the federal government to remove the ban on issuance of prohibited and non-prohibited weapon licences. We believe that getting rid of all weapons, except those in possession of the state, and eliminating all private militias ought to have been the first task of the National Action Plan (NAP). NAP has completely failed to take any steps in this direction but on the contrary, it has now decided to add more weapons to an already weapon-loaded, violent and intolerant society.
Would it be incorrect to conclude that this act of the government conveys the following stark messages? First, that the government’s decisions support proliferation of weapons and militancy in Pakistan and second, that the state has formally abdicated its fundamental responsibility to protect the life and property of citizens. Instead, it wants them to buy weapons, create private armies, which are prohibited by Article 256 of the Constitution, and defend themselves.
Numerous nations, like Japan, Australia, Argentina and England, have taken drastic steps to eliminate weapons amongst their populations, thus bringing peace and prosperity to their countries. Sadly, we, who are victims of this burgeoning violence, have decided to act in just the opposite manner. We demand the following:
1. Possession of arms must be declared the exclusive domain of the state and no citizen, regardless of his or her position or status, must be allowed to possess, carry or display any weapon of any kind — licensed or otherwise.
2. In compliance with Article 256 of the Constitution, all private militias regardless of their patrons must be completely disbanded and the state must firmly act to completely eliminate all such armed gangs.
3. Issuance of new arms licences be banned and the already issued licences must be declared null and void.
4. Possession, import, sale, transportation, delivery and display of all kinds of weapons by civilians be completely banned.
5. All citizens must be made to surrender their weapons through a planned buy-back scheme.
We urge the Government of Pakistan to immediately reverse its intention of removing the ban on the issuance of weapons and to implement the five-point charter stated above.
Naeem Sadiq
for Citizens Against Weapons
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2017.
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