Security threat: Sindh govt bans arms licences till elections

KARACHI:

The Sindh government has banned the issuance of new weapons’ licences until the general election.

The decision comes following the recommendation of the chief election commissioner to finalise security and administrative arrangements for the elections, said an official of the Sindh home department. Fakharuddin G. Ebrahim proposed banning new permits for weapons during a meeting of the election commission on Wednesday.

The notification has yet to be issued but the deputy commissioners have been asked to stop approving new licences within their jurisdictions. More than 400,000 gun permits have been issued in the province during the past four years, the official said. Recently, the home department issued a new weapons licence policy following an apex court order, directing the authorities only give gun permits to individuals aged 25 or above.

Confirming the ban on new permits, Sharfuddin Memon, the adviser to home department, said the decision was in view of the approaching elections.

“The law and order situation obviously suggests impending bloodshed,” Memon said. “There are enough weapons already and we plan to keep their numbers in check until elections are held peacefully.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2013.