ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday directed Ministry of Interior to bring the issue of regulation of arms licenses for the automatic weapons before the next meeting of the Federal Cabinet.
The decision was taken during a briefing held at Prime Minister’s Office on automatic arms licenses.
The Interior secretary briefed the prime minister about the overall situation regarding the number of arms licenses issued by the federal as well as the provincial governments. He also briefed the meeting on policy framework governing the issuance of arms licenses.
The meeting was informed that 19,143 prohibited bore arms licenses were issued during the period 2010-12.
During the interim period of 2013, a total of 25,789 licenses were issued for the prohibited bore weapons.
The meeting was informed that only 410 prohibited bore arms licenses had been issued so far during the tenure of the present government. Out of these 410 licenses, 400 were issued to WAPDA. Only 10 licenses were issued to the individuals.
The meeting was informed that a deadline of December 30, 2017 had been set for re-validation of all licenses after which all non-computerised licenses issued by the Interior Ministry were liable to be cancelled.
The prime minister directed the Interior Ministry to work out a comprehensive policy on issuance of arms licenses so as to make the process more convenient and applicant friendly.
The prime minister directed that the arms licenses should be linked with database of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
Punjab governor: Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the PM’s Office on Tuesday.
The overall situation in the province with special reference to ongoing development projects was discussed during the meeting, a statement issued by the PM’s Media Office said.
PM returns home after London visit: Earlier, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had returned back home from London early on Tuesday.
Abbasi had traveled to London to meet ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attend a top-level party huddle to discuss party affairs in the wake of reports of rifts within the ranks of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N). The meeting was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who is still in London.
Published in Daily Times, November 1st 2017.
