Deweaponisation a national issue, says Malik

Deweaponisation is not an issue of Karachi or any other city, but a national one, which needs joint and co-ordinated efforts to help curb crimes and other incidents of lawlessness, said Rehman Malik Interior Minister here on Tuesday.
"Computerisation of arms licences is imperative to check the people who have obtained arms licences on fake identity cards or have got dozens of licences on one identity card," Malik said this while talking to media and addressing a high level meeting held at Interior Ministry.
The meeting was attended by Nadra officials, home secretaries, inspector generals of police of all provinces, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, Chief commissioner Islamabad, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, officials of Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and other law enforcement agencies. The meeting reviewed the strategy for deweaponisation of the country and appropriate action against the 'Bhatta' mafia in Karachi.
Addressing the participants of the meeting, Rehman Malik said that people should have replaced their old arms licences with computerised ones. "We will give last chance to people having illegal arms and an amnesty will be announced in consultation with provinces," Malik said
"Government will launch a crackdown to check the illegal weapons and action would be taken against the people having illegal arms under Anti Terrorist Act, Arms Ordinance 1999 and they would be given exemplary punishment," he added. Malik revealed the media that the meeting decided to activate the law relating to surrendering of illicit arms. This was an Act of 1991, where the federal government could issue a notification, authorising the District Co-ordination Officer, Deputy Commissioner or other officer concerned to collect illegal arms, which would be surrendered. A notification in this regard would be issued soon, he added.
He said it was demand of the provinces that the area of notification and timeline had been left with the provinces, which would decide in this direction. He said being a citizen of Pakistan anyone could acquire arm licences as per his or her requirements. "But possessing illegal arm is not fair which shows negative motives behind the move, so I appeal to the people to avoid keeping illegal arms and if they need an arm they should pursue the legal way," he added.
Terming the deweaponisation a national issue, Malik said that computerisation of arm licences would help eliminate fake licences as well as illegal weapons from the country. Malik said that the deweaponisation is not a drive for any single city, but for entire country to help curb crimes and other incidents of lawlessness. "We are getting input from all concerned circles so that action can be taken against the criminals including terrorists."
Malik said that it was decided in the meeting that National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will help provinces to computerise the arms licences . "The process of deweaponization will be started in the country in phases and Nadra will help provinces in computerisation of arms licences.
Provinces have agreed that Nadra be asked to computerise the arms licences, as a drive in this connection had already been launched at the federal level, Rehman Malik said. Malik said that the issue of extortion was discussed in the meeting in details and he had directed the law enforcement agencies to gather information of people involved in extortion so as to take stern action against 'Batha Mafia' as was taken against target killers in Karachi.
"We decided to make a strategy to achieve better and positive results during the action to be taken against those who throw grenades and distributed 'Bhatta' slips", Malik said. Interior Minister said that the meeting decided that a cell would be established at each district headquarters of the Nadra to renew or issue computerised arms licences of Federation. The same Cell would also entertain those holding licences issued by the provinces.
The main aim behind the move is to make each and every arm license computerised, Malik said, adding that this was very necessary, as it would ensure transparency. Malik said that the high level meeting also discussed in detail the issues related to money laundering, cyber crimes etc.
He said that the Federal Government has assured its full support to provinces in their efforts to combat and eliminate the crime. He appreciated media and Ulema for their cooperation in the fight against terror. Answering a question, he said, "We respect each and every order of Supreme Court and we will continue this in future as well." The Minister said free media and free judiciary was linked with democracy and being a democratic government "we will always facilitate them in the larger national interest."