Karachi, go get your gun

To buy a gun you need two passport photographs, a copy of your CNIC, a NADRA verification letter of your CNIC, a police certificate, salary slip, a copy of your electricity or telephone bill and Rs4,530 for the fee.


The minimum age was 18 years, but it has been bumped up to 25. Still, many people buy them illegally. “Most people in the 18 to 21 age bracket buy TT pistols,” says Shehzi Khan, an arms and ammunition dealer who runs shops in Saddar and DHA. “The weapon costs around Rs21,000 and an extra Rs35 per bullet.” Before they hand the weapon over they note down the buyers details, including thumb prints, address and CNIC number. Khan’s family has been in the business for 40 years. They get most of their supplies from Turkey, China, Yugoslavia and Russia. “We sell a TT almost every day, just last week we sold around 13 pistols,” he told The Express Tribune in December. “Some people are genuine gun collectors but most of these young boys buy guns to show ‘bharam’ [attitude] or fight.”