Pakistan at a rough estimate has more than 10 million illegal (unlicensed) weapons while the number of illegal weapons in NWFP and the adjoining tribal belt alone may range from 4 million to 7 million. The province is awash with small arms and light weapons with the largest ratio of guns per capita in the world.
The figures were given by a non-governmental organisations, 'Sustainable Peace & Development Organisation' (Spado) and 'Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme' (Camp), at a press conference in connection with 'Global Week Against Small Arms' being observed from June 6 to 12.
The total number of licences issued in NWFP from 1979 to 2000 is slightly less than two million. These licences also include prohibited bore weapons, either illegally or under special permission.
Raza Shah Khan, Executive Director, Spado, said that there are an estimated 75 million firearms in South Asia, 63 million of which are in the hands of civilians. He said that India and Pakistan overwhelmingly account for almost 40 million and 20 million, respectively. These two countries also have local production units as well, he added.
Chief Executive of 'Camp', Naveed Ahmad Shinwari, flanked him during the press conference.
"Civilians are the largest category of gun owners in the region, accounting for far more weapons that the military, police, and insurgents." he said, adding that millions of lives have already been lost in the region and the supply of arms to both governments and armed groups continue to grow.
Pakistan, he said, is awash with small arms and light weapons and has greatest number of guns per capita in the world. He attributed the flood of small weapons into Pakistan to the Afghan war.
Quoting the Ministry of Interior, he said that there are 3 million Kalashnikovs (AK-47) and its many derivatives, including Chinese Type-56 assault rifle) in circulation in the NWFP. He said that the figure does not include other types of assault rifles, such as M-16 and G-3 and other varieties of handguns (revolvers/pistols) and light weapons such as RPGs (rocket propelled grenade launchers) and mortars.
He said that Spado's research work on crimes related to small arms in Peshawar and, according to the data collected for the year 2003, in 98 per cent of total cases of murders and attempted murders firearms were used.
"The huge number of weapons in Pakistan has fuelled sectarian and regional violence. Pre-existing antagonisms have become sharpened with gun violence, resulting in distinct crisis of law and order, especially in the Frontier Regions," Raza said.
In the City of Karachi, the annual death toll is about 1000, and it is estimated that between 1992 and 1998, that city lost 18,000 to 20,000 lives to gun violence.
According to another estimate, 500,000 people have died in gun violence during past 20 years.
He said that the impact of small arms and light weapons in NWFP and FATA is devastating as they are used in personal and tribal disputes, and they are the main sources of use in terrorist and anti-state activities. The use of small arms in both minor and major disputes is badly affecting the socio-economic conditions of the parties involved. According to data collected and interviews with local communities and media, small arms are the weapons that have made the situation worst as their use on minor issues results in major family disputes and major family and tribal conflicts have further affected the socio-economic conditions.
He demanded of the government of Pakistan to fulfill its commitment made with the United Nations for appointment of a focal point on small arms and establishment of a National Commission for the redressal of the problem.
The government of Pakistan had made a commitment to implement the UN Programme of Action on small arms (UN POA) at the time of its adoption in 2001, but despite the passage of three years the Pakistan government has neither appointed a focal point nor has established the commission.
The government of Pakistan had submitted only one report to UN on POA implementation, while some states have reported every year.
He also called for the ratification of the UN Firearms Protocol, the global treaty to regulate manufacture, export, import and transit of firearms.
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