Arms licenses: LHC suspends govt notification on computerisation
The LHC also directed the govt to apprise the court on whether it was willing to consult the stakeholders.
LAHORE:
The Lahore High Court on Thursday suspended a federal government notification on computerisation of arms licenses.
Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan of the LHC also directed the government to apprise the court on whether it was willing to consult the stakeholders and adjourned hearing till January 27.
Appearing before the court, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar argued on behalf of petitioners and said the arms licenses were issued in the form of a booklet, which contains pages covering all aspects.
However, the notification for computerisation of these licenses had been challenged on the ground that the federal government must consult the stakeholders and then make rules providing for all aspects, which should thereafter be notified in the Official Gazette.
He said the petitioners were not against the computerisation but the process should be clearly prescribed.
The counsel further argued that rules had to be made by the federation but they illegally authorised THE National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to formulate the rules, which was not an entity envisaged under the Arms Rule 1924.
License holders filed these petitions challenging the advertisement and notification issued by the federal government according to which all arms and ammunition licenses were to be cancelled and new computerised licenses were to be issued by NADRA.
The Lahore High Court on Thursday suspended a federal government notification on computerisation of arms licenses.
Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan of the LHC also directed the government to apprise the court on whether it was willing to consult the stakeholders and adjourned hearing till January 27.
Appearing before the court, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar argued on behalf of petitioners and said the arms licenses were issued in the form of a booklet, which contains pages covering all aspects.
However, the notification for computerisation of these licenses had been challenged on the ground that the federal government must consult the stakeholders and then make rules providing for all aspects, which should thereafter be notified in the Official Gazette.
He said the petitioners were not against the computerisation but the process should be clearly prescribed.
The counsel further argued that rules had to be made by the federation but they illegally authorised THE National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to formulate the rules, which was not an entity envisaged under the Arms Rule 1924.
License holders filed these petitions challenging the advertisement and notification issued by the federal government according to which all arms and ammunition licenses were to be cancelled and new computerised licenses were to be issued by NADRA.