KARACHI: The government has decided to stop issuing manual armed licences and directed the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to issue computerised licences by August 31, said Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
He was talking to reporters on Monday after presiding over a meeting on law and order situation at Crises Management Cell.
Dozens of weapons are being purchased on one licence and there has been no proper record, he said. Many groups have been involved in making counterfeit licences which have led to a large amount of arms being smuggled into Karachi from Dara Adamkhel and the tribal areas of the country, he said. By law one person is allowed five weapons on one licence, but people get dozens of weapons and there has been no proper record of the licence holders.
Malik also said that Nadra has developed a highly secured armed licence management system under which transparent and authentic process will be carried out. He said that Nadra would also verify the old licences which would be computerised.
The government will start the de-weaponising campaign in different phases and people possessing illegal weapons will face a punishment of seven to 14 years.
(Read: Seeking an end to Karachi’s killings)
According to the interior minister, terrorists were using bogus mobile SIM cards to plan out their activities in the county. “We warn people again to get their SIM cards registered by September 5 and block the ones issued by someone else on their identity cards,” urged Malik. “Otherwise cases would be lodged against the SIM holders.”
The Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan said that they would talk to Sindhi nationalists and address their grievances. He felt that, as the government has restored the local government system in all of Sindh, the nationalists should stop their campaign against the government.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 9th, 2011.
COMMENTS (32)
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we feel unsafe over self after the cancellation of arms licences.over government is too fool.
Insane and Immature strategy to deweponise. this threatening like mentality also discourage the youth who is also willing to have an effective legal weapon licensing. that is our leadership alaaas!!!
Mr Malick...what will you do about the Jedi mind tricks...you cant license that.....may the force be with you !....also please let us know what will you do about the "Star Wars" like "characters" causing chaos in our country!
@Cautious: Yes, of course the criminals never have the licenses of their weapons, but this is why this has to be implemented i.e. 1. to draw a clear distinction between the authorized and non-authorized weapons 2. To have a precise estimate about the amount of weapons which are non-licensed. People will have to understand that technology aid doesn't actually solve "any" problem what so ever...but (if implemented efficiently) it provides you an effective "tool" solve your problems. If we talk about 'Information systems' or 'databases' they just are a means to have detailed and multi-dimensional data into them...so that it will be upon the users how they can effectively dig into that data to find valuable insights...which ultimately will help to target a particular problem area and to resolve it....
Fence large cities and retrict exit and entry routes from proper monitoring. This is what all developed countries are doing. Our ill planned regime has no vision to bring peace to the country. Follow success model instead of inventing your bogus model. All big cities need strict monitoring of ins and outs.
But my fists are deadlier than guns. Where do I register?
AWESOME!
"By law one person is allowed five weapons on one licence, but people get dozens of weapons and there has been no proper record of the licence holders." - the law says one weapon per license I don't know where he has gotten this from
Pakistan does not need more weapons..... Please devise a strategy so that no one is able to buy or use weapons..... only licensed security companies should be issued weapons license. No individual should be issued one. It is time we get rid of the Kalashnikov culture !
@pardesi: U are not from mumbai by any chance , are you?
It is not only Darra Adam or any other tribal areas from where the weapons are smuggled in but are also smuggled into Karachi via SEAPORT. Rehman Malik, The JOKER will always come up with stupid ideas.Anyone with little bit of brains would know that by cancelling the legitimate licenses this killing wont stop!!!!
happy shooting
He needs to resign ASAP after accepting that weapons smuggle from Darra Adamkhel and tribal areas to karachi. What he was doing when those arms were smuggled in and what is the surety that such smuggling will stop after 31 August? Is he tries to put law abiding citizens who paid billions of rupees for license fee in front of criminals and terrorists have illegal weapons by cancelling the arms licenses? What he is doing as a Minister of Interior to stop illegal arms making in Darra Adamkhel and Tribal areas? Is Pakistan law and constitution allows illegal arms making factories in Darra Adamkhel and tribal areas? Also what is the procedure of making new arms license from NADRA? What old license NADRA treated as original and issued a new one? What about licenses issued by accepting billion of Rupees by this PPP government from 2008 till now? Many questions need answers.
oh yeah thats a solution. Put more guns into the mix. that will solve the fighting!
Is shuld be a crime to issue statements with a hairdo like this minister! I bet he is not even fasting.
@Umda Biskut: Someone pls tell him that law abiding armed citizens can defend themselves against gangs with illegal weapons esp. when police is never where they are supposed to be.
Wow, revenge of the extreme liberal fascists. take away legally owned guns!
Weapons should be outlawed completely. There should be no distinction between legal and illegal weapons. No licenses to anyone under any circumstances. Instead of this cosmetic step, the government should have boldly asked all weapons holders to surrender their weapons by a specified date after which they should search for weapons and anyone found in possession of firearms should be awarded heavy punishment. But who will do that? The political parties are not interested in peace; they are only interested in bandar bant of resources, political and financial. These 'democratic' leaders are only interested in freedom to loot and plunder. The stalwarts of democracy should take note: the core commanders' conference has already expressed concern over the Karachi situation!
Instead of renewing,why not suspend them ? Govt. should try to maintain peace in all regions of this country. Why should civilians need guns when there are tonnes of security organizations to help with ? Possession of arms brings violence in one way or the other.
How about banning weapons altogether ?
Why did the govt accept the license fee for all the licenses issued under previous system?what are Malik's thoughts on returning the fee govt charged for all these legitimate arms licenses?how can he declare them as void when the citizen has been charged for issuance of that license? Anybody has got answers?
Part of the great game . Unarm the Muhajirs , they wont get the weapons . The thugs , landgrabbers , drug peddlers , murderes will be free to get thier wepoan cache the very next month from their old abode Darra Adam Khel .
The result ..............................................
Mr.Malik , why the simple equation is so hard to comprehend ?
Wondering whether mqm was serious in its demand for deweponization.. The sole source of power weilding!
I agree with Hameed. This is just another money making step by the goverenment.. The Government has failed to provide security to the citiizens and now by taking people arms licences back, they are just making us unsafe at home as well
Wonderful job done by the Government of Pakistan. In fact this was supposed to be done long time back when illegal arms and ammunition was not spread across the board.
It is not only the matter of guns which the government should count but when someone purchase a single bullet from the market, it should be only sold to such people who have made their CNIC and the bullet should be registered in his name.
When the buyer goes next time to the arms shop, he should return give an account to the government as why one want to buy bullet and for which purpose.
Can the web editors please stop linking blogs in news articles?
ok,saarjeee.
Correct me; so in next 22 days, all arms licences issued throughout Pakistan will become null and void and NADRA will issue new computerised licence will be issued.
Great step by malik. . He rocks.
I wonder how many Taliban or criminals have permits for their weapons - you can bet that these guys are not going to be approached by the police for their permits or sim cards.
Here we go again, another money making opportunity for the government servants to milk the masses. By penalizing legitimate arms license holders i fail to see how they will deweaponize Karachi when majority of times the arms used in killings or clashes are illegally obtained.