KARAHI: As soon as the ban on issuing arms licenses was lifted in Sindh, various unscrupulous elements have started demanding heavy amounts to issue non-prohibited and prohibited-bore licenses, it has been revealed.
The fee for arms licenses in Sindh ranges from Rs5,000 to Rs20,000. However, due to the complexity and difficulty of the procedure, the licenses are being issued illegally in the province for millions of rupees.
Sources claim that elements present in the Chief Minister’s House, Secretariat, Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners are illegally collecting huge sums of money to get licenses for banned prohibited bore weapons.
More than 110,000 licenses have been issued in the last year across Sindh. Well-informed sources said that the proceeds from the issuance of illegal licenses are distributed to various political personalities.
An investigation by MM News revealed the elements present in the offices of the commissioner and deputy commissioner are issuing arms licenses for Rs.30-40,000. The price of licence under the MPA quota has been fixed at Rs 50,000
Sources revealed that policemen deployed at the Sindh Secretariat are also facilitating the citizens gain licence illegally and receive commission by reaching out to these elements.
The Sindh government has not taken any regarding the illegal sale of arms licenses. Some members of the Sindh Assembly are also unaware that citizens will be issued arms licences from their quota.
In November 2019, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah lifted a ban on the issuance of arms licences in the province after several years.
The government was issuing only computerised arms licenses of non-prohibited bore will be issued as per the prescribed monthly quota after fulfilling all requirements under Sindh Arms Act, 2013 and the Sindh Arms Rules, 2018.
The prohibited bore arms include AK-47, machine guns, sub-machine guns, etc. — automatic weapons that can release many bullets with one press of the trigger. Non-prohibited bore arms are shot-guns, revolvers, pistols, etc.
