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Arms ban explained

KARACHI: The government has only banned the display of arms from outside the house and there is no ban on keeping arms inside house.

This was clarified by Interior Secretary Hasan Raza Pasha while referring to impression among people in relation to ban on display of arms. There has been an impression that there is a ban on keeping arms even at home and that even licenced arms are being withdrawn.

The Interior Secretary said that the ban was only on display of arms in public but there is no ban on keeping licenced arms at home.

Besides, he said, uniformed government employees, uniformed guards of registered security agencies and uniformed guards at banks, schools and other sensitive places can perform their duties with arms. However it will be incumbent for them to carry their identification documents with them.

It was further clarified that there will be no restriction on these uniformed guards in carrying arms to the place of their duty. However guards without uniform will not enjoy this facility.

It was also clarified that there is no ban on taking the licenced arms from outside the house, Provided it is not made visible. It can be carried in dash board of the car or in a suitcase. But while going on foot or cycle, tonga, rickshaw or taxi, it cannot be carried on the shoulder.

He said the government is seized with the plan of deweaponisation of the society and the same will be announced soon.

Under this plan, he said, a ban on keeping arms would be enforced in different stages. This would also include ban on taking the arms out of house. There would be complete ban on keeping and display of arms of prohibited bore.

Besides, other measures would also be the part of this plan, the Interior secretary said. APP