Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 29, 1429    

Campaign launched against display of weapons

Islamabad—The Ministry of Interior has directed the federal and provincial governments to launch an immediate focused campaign against display, brandishing and carriage of weapons.

The decision has been taken in view of the fact that vast majority of killings and casualties are directly attributable to the use of small arms which are easy to carry and conceal, an Interior Ministry statement said. “The Government is duty bound to provide safety and security to its citizens from this menace for which we have to launch a campaign against display, brandishing and carriage of weapons,” it said.

The concerned officials have been directed to deploy special mobile squads for random checks of motorbikes and four wheelers for carriage of weapons. Mobile squads would also be able to immediately react to any information on weapons.

Following the instructions the Capital Police have installed pickets at all entry and exist points of the Capital besides it has increased the police patrolling in the city to check the street and other organised crimes. It is pertinent to mention here that Advisor to Prime Minister A. Rehman Malik taking notice of increased robberies including mobile and car snatching and other street crimes in the country directed polices authorities last month to suggest maximum punishment against the criminals involved. He also directed the provincial as well as the federal police authorities to take strict action against criminals of car snatching, mobile snatching and robberies to curb these crimes.

Rehman also directed the police authorities to remove the SHOs if they fail to control these crimes in their respective areas.

He asked all the police stations across the country to daily submit a report on these crimes to National Police Bureau Islamabad, so that the government could examine the progress of the police department in curbing these crimes.—APP