PPP trying to raise private militia in Sindh: PTI MPA

Haleem Adil Shaikh seeks details of arms licenses issued in province between 2018 and 2020

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Haleem Adil Shaikh accused the Pakistan People Party on Tuesday of "trying to raise a private militia in Sindh by issuing arms licensces in wholesale fashion." The vice president of the PTI's Sindh chapter alleged that the PPP, which leads the provincial government in Sindh, wants to raise a private militia in the province to stage gang wars and bloodbaths and for this purpose it is issuing arms licences on political grounds.

In a statement issued on the day, Shaikh, who is also a member of the provincial assembly, said that he has written a letter to the Sindh home secretary in this regard.

In the letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, Shaikh has requested the details of arms licences issued by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah from 2018 till December 29, 2020.

Shaikh claimed in the letter that he has learnt that the CM issued a large number of computerised arms licenses in the province. The PTI lawmaker raised concerns that this may create a law and order situation.

The PTI lawmaker sought a list of names of persons to whom arms licenses have been issued between 2018 to 2020 and a list of the people - MPAs and otherwise - on whose recommendation the said arms licenses were issued. Besides, Shaikh asked for details of security clearance or police verification of the people to whom the licenses were issued and the detailed policy of the provincial government on this matter.

In the statement issued by Shaikh's office on Tuesday, Shaikh claimed that these licenses were issued without security clearances and political verification. "…These licenses are virtually licenses to kill, as the ruling PPP has made Sindh province its fiefdom…a female MPA also got arms licenses issued in a large number to her supporters," the statement quoted Shaikh as saying.

Shaikh invoked the right to freedom of information law, and his status as a citizen of the country and an elected member of the provincial assembly, and maintained that if the information is not given, he reserves the right to approach the courts.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2020.