Home department calls for uniform strategy

Report highlighting the fact that there is no proper policy on arms and licensing submitted to govt.

KARACHI: The home department has submitted a report comprising recommendations based on the national de-weaponisation campaign. The recommendations have been sent to the Sindh and federal governments

According to sources, the report has highlighted the fact that there is no proper policy on arms and licensing. As a result, there is no way to keep a computerised record of licences issued. There is no way to keep a check on distribution, purchase or manufacturing of arms and ammunition, making it easy for people to get hold of illegal weapons. Even weapons that are seized from suspects are not recorded under a proper system.

There are more than 3,000 registered licence dealers but no record exists on unregistered dealers.

Recommendations based on the national de-weaponisation campaign stated that an adviser on national security should be appointed, who can educate and confer with civil, paramilitary and armed forces all over the country.

The adviser should also inform the ministries of trade, treasury, law and information about the policy on weapons. There should be a uniform federal policy on arms and licences. The policy on the Dara Adamkhel weapons industry, which was devised in 1999, must be implemented. Meanwhile, the manufacture of weapons in the rest of the country should be brought to an end. A campaign should be launched through which all illegal weapons can be seized. Criminals should be given a time period to give up their weapons or a policy of official pardon can also be devised in order to encourage them to come forward.

Rewards should be announced for people who provide accurate information in such cases.

Weapon manufacturing should be monitored at the federal level and the government should also ponder setting a quota on the number of arms and ammunition to be produced.

The report also recommended that all provincial governments should collect reports on past de-weaponisation schemes and submit them within 15 days.

A de-weaponisation campaign can only be effective if there is proper monitoring, surprise checks and swift implementation of punishments.

The display of weapons should be prohibited all over the country at the same time. A computerised database must be maintained of all weapons made, sold and licensed. The report also advised that awareness campaigns should be carried out with the help of media and society.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2010.