Aqsa was injured by a stray bullet on the premises of her school in Saeedabad, Karachi. She succumbed to her injuries after she was rushed to the intensive care unit of the National Institute of Child Health. Though investigations are underway to determine where the 9mm pistol bullet came from, the need to reconsider gun control laws in the country is paramount. Especially considering that just two months ago 10-year-old Amal died during an encounter between the police and criminals.
The cases of Amal and Aqsa have stark similarities as both the minors died by a stray bullet that were not destined to come their way. Though not yet proven, there is also doubt about the stray bullet in Aqsa’s case coming from the Policing Training Centre near The Citizens Foundation school she was enrolled in. If proven, this would bear another similarity to Amal’s case as investigations proved that the bullet she died from came from the gun in possession of the police on ground. This begs the need to reconsider the protocols and training given to the very people who are responsible for the protection of civilians.
On the other hand, a strict scrutiny of issuance of licences to possess arms should follow, limiting the number of licences issued in Pakistan. According to reports, 69,473 licences for prohibited bore weapons were issued on the recommendation of parliamentarians only between 2008 and 2013. This requires a stop in licences given on recommendations, possessions of arms should only be limited to security personnel. Stringent gun control laws need to be implemented, lest we go on losing precious lives.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2018.
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