‘Right to bear arms’: Torghar tribesmen refuse to surrender weapons

Demand clear policy for issuing weapon licences and permits.

MANSEHRA:

Tribesmen of Torghar District have refused to hand over their weapons to the police until the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government devises a clear policy for issuing weapon licences and permits to the tribal people.

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, a group of tribesmen, headed by Syed Gulfraz Shah and Mehboob Dad, said it was decided in a meeting with K-P Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti that the tribal people of Torghar will not surrender their “traditional arms” until a clear policy for issuing licences and permits was devised.

They accused the police of violating the 23-point agreement they signed with the K-P government before changing the status of their area, formerly Kala Dhaka, to Torghar District. The tribesmen said it was agreed that the tribal people would be provided free licences to keep their traditional 7mm rifles and pistols for protection, whereas they would be issued permits for AK-47 rifles. Instead, they said the police have started forcibly taking away their weapons, which are “part of their culture and necessary for their protection”.

They accused the district administration of violating the agreement and deliberately creating a law and order situation in the district. They threatened to stage a protest against the district administration in front of Parliament House if their right to bear arms was violated.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2012.