ISLAMABAD, : Proliferation of small arms are known to have played a pivotal role in fueling insurgency, terrorism as well as formation of urban gangs and at the same time undermined development initiatives or other moves to bring about peace in the country. Successive regimes kept adopting numerous measures to stop the relentless spread of firearms in society and also launched campaigns in their tenures, but all this went in vain. Today as the already fragile law and order starts to endanger every nook and corner of the country, the present regime has tasked National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to computerize arm licenses. This step has been envisioned to ensure transparency and check illegal weapons.
Around 158 designated centres across the country are busy to achieving the task as separate counters have been set-up in designated centres to receive applications for computerization of arms licenses.
Of the total, 13 counters have been established in Multan, 30 in Quetta, 14 in Lahore, 10 in Sargodha, 32 Peshawar, 24 in Islamabad, 11 in Hyderabad, 10 in Sukkur, 13 in Karachi while some centres have also been set-up in other cities under the arms license project.
September 30 has been fixed as last date for computerization of licenses issued by Ministry of Interior. However this project did not cater for the computerization of manual licenses issued by the provincial governments.
As per information, the provinces are also planning to launch the process for computerizing the arm licenses to curb the incidents of lawlessness.
License holders are submitting their applications under the initiative which would help law enforcement agencies in crime control efforts while record of legal arms will be updated district-wise.
Deputy Chairman NADRA, Tariq Malik told APP the authority has state-of-the-art infrastructure, and trained and qualified manpower to develop and manage Arms License Management System.
Although NADRA is processing arms licenses on behalf of the interior ministry, the approval of each license application is the sole discretion of the ministry. NADRA is only processing those applications which have the approval of the ministry.
Original Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) and original licenses (along with photocopies) are prerequisite for the revalidation along with application form available at centres and the interior ministry. Card renewal fee of Rs.1100 for Prohibited Bore License and Rs. 600 for Non-Prohibited Bore license is being charged along with any payable in respect of government license renewal fee due.
The original arms license booklet, retained by NADRA, will be forwarded to interior ministry for post verification.
Answering a question, he said that security was an essence of the reliability of any particular identity document. The current situation in the country demands that a document as sensitive as the arms license be developed in a highly secure platform, adding that in continuation of the background security checks employed in this new system, physical security features are added to strength the reliability factor.
In their comments, citizens in Federal Capital said instead of renewal the licenses should be suspend. “This is a right step to maintain peace in all areas of this country. Why should civilians need guns when there are security organizations to help with,” said Iqbal Muhammad, resident of G-6 Sector.
He said possession of arms brings violence in one way or the other and this should be discouraged.
Iftikhar Ahmad Bhatti, another resident of Margalla Town said it is not only the matter of guns which the government should count but when someone purchase a single bullet from the market, it should be sold only to such people who have made their CNIC and the bullet should be registered in their names.
“When the buyer goes next time to the arms shop, he should return give an account to the government as why one want to buy bullet and for which purpose,” he said, adding a proper check system should be introduced.
“Weapons should be outlawed completely. There should be no distinction between legal and illegal weapons. No licenses to anyone under any circumstances,” a group of citizens at Karachi Company told APP.
They said all weapons holders should be boldly asked to surrender their weapons by a specified date after which they should search for weapons and anyone found in possession of firearms should be awarded heavy punishment.
“Pakistan does not need more weapons... the government should devise a strategy so that no one is able to buy or use weapons... only licensed security companies should be issued weapons license,” they said.
An expert told this Agency that to begin with, more stringent legislation must be introduced to regulate weapons manufacturing, trade, and licensing.
The private production, import, export and transit of arms are prohibited under the law, but it is not illegal to purchase weapons from an illegal manufacturer or supplier. Significant funds must also be allocated to train law-enforcers in how to track and confiscate weapons and destroy illegal small arms.
Of course, these measures can only prove effective if police reforms are pushed through and the complicity of the authorities in arms smuggling is minimized.
Computerization of arm licenses is a right and timely initiative - as there would be a proper record and data, the government would be able to alter its licensing policy and at the same time help monitor citizens who possess small arms.
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