KARACHI:
An intelligence agency has warned of the danger posed by the availability of mobile phone guns in the local market.
An urgent letter from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency to law-enforcement and intelligence outfits has warned of the infiltration of the sets, which appear to be normal cellular phones, and could potentially be used to assassinate key individuals.
The news has come as a shock to officials and organisations that have yet to devise a strategy to eradicate the threat.
“These guns are reportedly of European origin and look just like a normal cellular phone but can fire 4 rounds of 0.22 caliber in quick succession using just the keypad,” said an intelligence source citing details of the warning received through the ISI communiqué.
“The guns are available in Peshawar’s Karkhano Market priced at around Rs30,000 a piece. But obviously there are concerns that the supply of these guns to other parts of the country may begin any time, as the weapon is popular among those in the arms business.”
Among other threats, the spy agency sees a serious danger to the lives of senior government functionaries and political leaders. The guns, as the source said, could easily be used as a tool to target people from a very close range.
“Since the gun looks like a cell phone, there is a strong possibility that terrorists may use it in places where they cannot get through with a conventional weapon,” said the source.
The mobile phone guns are believed to have been manufactured in Yugoslavia or Croatia. The antennae of the gutted phones function as gun barrels and the numbers 5 through 8 on the keypad work as triggers. Security experts say the cell phone guns, as well as other improvised explosive devices, can be detected by screening equipment now in use at airports internationally.
“Considering the details of the guns and its improvisation, strict checks have been recommended to keep eye on arms being smuggled into Pakistan,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2012.
COMMENTS (17)
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May almighty keep us away from all sin
WelDone Pakistan An other best facility for the terrorist to kill human being.
I think everyone should buy it to protect himself against phone snatchers.
well popularising this weapon could decrease suicide bomb blasts in my opinion..moreover people will target the required figures only innocent victims who get involved in blasts without any reasons could be saved
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Lets worry more about the conventional guns such as pistols and AK-47s. These cellular fone guns are nothing compared to other guns which are far easier to get anywhere in Pakistan.
gr8 job on behalf of the reporter n ifcorx ET
Personally, I blame the movies.
Now the mother of all problems has arrived in Pakistan.
How will the law enfforcing officers check the mobile phone guns, when almost every person has a cellular phone atleast in all the cities of Pakistan.
One cannot check every single person walking on the street, similar to suicide bombers who roam freely and attack the required target, which the government has not been able to control as yet.
Lets see .....................Kharkhano Market Peshawar .............hmmmmm.....If my calucualtion is correct the guns have already made their ways in Karachi by now .ET you are late .
Where it all coming from? Can't we stop it or again bribe used to import ------Simple question but .....
the thing is why someone would spend some extra money on such sophisticated gun when they can have AK47 Kalashnikov much more easily.. =s
Yeah whoever don't know about it and they got an idea from Tribune....lol
This isn't a new phenomenon I remember as a kid seeing pen guns in various markets across the country
Phone snatchers be warned; you may get more than what you demand.
Nobody use your cellphone anywhere near someone with an itchy trigger finger.
Won't work - Made in China.
A sample should be provided to all law enforcement agencies so that this most dangerous weapon can easily be detected. Surely, now there will be a rush by criminals to purchase this deadly weapon.