The Citizens Trust Against Crime held a protest at the Metropole Hotel to demand promotion of peace in the city, urging all civilians to voice their concerns over the law and order situation in Karachi. PHOTO: PPI
KARACHI: As crime in the city increases and the use of weapons becomes all the more rampant, concerned citizens took to the streets on Monday demanding deweaponisation and the depoliticising of the police.
The protest was organised by the Citizens Trust Against Crime (CTAC) in which members of varying segments of society, including retired army officials, members of human rights organisations, politicians and students urged action against the deteriorating law and order situation.
Volunteers distributed pamphlets to drivers of passing by vehicles at the main roundabout near the Metropole Hotel and asked them to support their campaign. Interestingly, most of the drivers stopped their vehicles on their own and asked for a pamphlet, thoroughly agreeing with the protesters to abolish the weapon culture which is flourishing in the country.
"The previous government issued 70,000 licences of prohibited weapons, they should at least cancel these licences as an initial step" said Nazim Haji, a CTAC volunteer.
Meanwhile, a retired navy officer, Ijaz Chaudhry, said the influence of politics in the police, rather than weaponisation, is the main cause of the increased crime rate in the city. "Politicians are always interfering in police investigations and try to station their own people in prominent positions."
An activist of the Pakistan Tehrik-Insaaf said no citizen, regardless of his rank or status, should be allowed to posses, carry or display a weapon."A massive programme to withdraw all weapons, to strike down the discretionary armed ordinance and to cancel all gun licences must be the first step in the fight against violence and militancy."
Human rights activist Nighat Mir said that every citizen should join hands with the CTAC in this difficult hour in order to counter the problems. "Let every citizen stand up and raise his voice to put an end to crime, violence and militancy in the country."
Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2014.
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@SWAB: If a gun is kept in your house obviously keeping it locked up would serve no purpose. One would keep it a place where it can easily and quickly be reached if needed. teenagers and kids are curious, have a penchant for showing off, think they know everything and will eventually get hold of it. I had a relative who slept for years with a gun on hand and tucked under his pillow. The end result was that not only was his house cleaned out but the robbers took the gun too.
@Ali: A gun was held on my sisters head. Same thing happened years later with my Grand Mother. I still reiterate guns are not useful for people like us who have no desire to use them.
even if guns are banned. people will be killed. guns are not older then 200 years or lets say 400years. people were still killed and powers were abused. its just a tool. bad tool in badguys hand and useful tool in a goodguys hand. we need to educate and make peoples lives good. poverty is the main cause of bad law and order situation in our country. people who have a good life will never do bad deeds. its the poverty who makes them do what they do.
Guns don't kill people...... people kill people.....
If the people of Karachi want a weapons free city, then let them demand it from the political leaders that run the city aka MQM
Snatching away legal weapons would only make the citizens more defenseless. The right to bear arms is the distinction between a free man and a slave. The LEAs and Government need to take concrete steps to apprehend criminals, not legal weapons. Licensed arms are not used in criminal activities, apart from a few isolated incidents.
Guns aren't the problem - it's the bad people who use them. The only people who are going to voluntarily give up their weapons are the people who aren't using them illegally. . If the police are really the problem then fix it. I recall when New Orleans police were so corrupt that the Feds were force to step in and took over the dept for a number of years - clean sweep of all the police leaders. Anything is doable if you have the will.
I will support any person and any party that opposes the use of firearms. They are a menace to society.
I refuse to permit a gun in my house even though we have been robbed at gunpoint. A colleague recently lost a relative cause a teenage boy was showing his gun off. Guns are not meant for us law abiding people. The only people we will hurt with them are ourselves and those around us. Eradicate guns and implement proper gun control and see how the casualty count falls
PTI should stop arms coming from tribal areas and from kpp
Apparently, requesting criminals to give up arms will work since they will do it very willingly.
All this does is ensures that we're unable to defend ourselves when the need arises.The PTI government has been unable to accomplish anything it promised in its election mandate and here they are advocating the curtailment of rights of citizens to carry weapons for self defense.
Let's not be idealistic, let's be practical. Until there's writ of the government, there will be no security for the common citizen.
It is obviously a logical demand. In the absence of "law enforcement" only threat to the criminals is an armed citizen. Under current law and order situation, dis-arming law abiding citizens will definitely improve working conditions and safety of the criminals. So the end result: a thriving business for target killers, bhatta mafias, ransom professionals and dacoits etc.
At least some people are doing something constructive. Taking that first step.
In vew of the current law and order situation and by the looks of things to come, it should be other way round. If police & rangers can not be relied upon for any safety and protection then until the situation improves, one should have the right to take the necessary measure.
Unfortunately, I do not agree with the CTAC. I want to be able to possess and conceal carry a weapon on my person at all times. I want access to shooting ranges so I can practice handling my weapon.
I instead urge citizens to petition the government to allow all citizens possessing a legal firearm to be able to conceal carry it. By invoking section 144, the government restricts law abiding citizens from carrying weapons, however people with influence and criminals are free to do as they please. It is this bias that needs to be eliminated.
A very welcoming move.......the establishment of CTAC. Congratulations...Viva...Bravo...Mubarak!!! let the CTAC become a 'force majeure' or game changer and not an accidental occurrence. Salams
I fail to understand that why are they asking for the arms licenses to be revoked and taking away licensed arms. I have a few guns which are all licensed and legal. Primarily its my hobby and i go to a proper range for shooting purpose.
Also how many crimes are committed with a licensed weapon. Hardly any!
They should first ask to get rid of all the illegal weapons and criminals and then should observe the situation.
The existence of weapon itself is a huge reason for the generation of conflicts in the society. Put differently, if you have the weapon, the weapon will provide you the reason for its use as well.
Apparently the true representatives of the people of Karachi are 90's singer Khalid Anum, "Tammy" and various other affluent people