Grand operation against illegal weapons on the cards

Biometric verification required of all arms holders

RAWALPINDI:

Authorities have decided to conduct a grand operation against illegal weapons across the district. As per the plan, dealers and holders of armed licences will have to undergo biometric verification, while strict legal action will be taken against those who possess unlicensed weapons.

According to police sources, the drive against arms and ammunition is being undertaken on the report of an intelligence agency. During the operation, biometric verification of all arms holders will be done again at the police station level while records about the condition of the weapons and ammunition will also be compiled.

The arms dealers and suppliers will also have to undergo biometric verification while details of their customers will also be collected. Police personnel will be posted at all bus stations to stop illegal arms delivery in the city. The police will search the luggage of passengers on tipoffs. Information will also be collected from the Special Branch to eradicate illegal arms and ammunition.

Sources said that special attention will be given to those who are doing illegal business of arms in the city, adding that vendors earn huge profits by selling all kinds of modern weapons, including automatic ones, to the customers.

As per the strategy, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and administration will also take steps to curb the supply of illegal arms. Sources added that due to the easy supply of illegal weapons in the city, there has been an increase in incidents like gun violence and aerial firing and the only way to control them is to stop the supply of illegal weapons.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2022.