MQM submits deweaponisation bill in National Assembly

The bill demanding deweaponisation of the country submitted in a bid to control violence.

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) presented a bill in the National Assembly on Tuesday demanding the deweaponisation of the country in a bid to control violence.

MQM leader Abdul Qadir Khanzada presented the bill which says people will have to give up their illegal weapons and hand them over to the government.

The bill also demands the government to make legislation in this regard.

The MQM said the step will help control crimes across the country.

In January this year, MQM had submitted the same deweaponisation bill known as “Deweaponisation of Pakistan Bill of 2011” in the National Assembly. But with the passage of the 18^th Amendment, the issue of arms, firearms and ammunition was devolved to the provinces which made it difficult for the bill to be passed owing to the strained relationship of MQM with the other provincial parties.

The section on arms was included in the concurrent legislative list, which was omitted when the 18th amendment became a part of the constitution.