CJP stresses end to Kalashnikov culture in country

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa Wednesday urged the need to eradicate the Kalashnikov culture from the country and sought details of licenses of prohibited weapons issued so far from the authorities concerned.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarat Hilali, heard the post-arrest bail application of one Kashif, named in a case pertaining to theft of weapons from a house. The court accepted the bail plea, granting Kashif post-arrest bail against surety bonds of Rs50,000.

After issuing notices to Attorney General for Pakistan, interior secretary, home secretaries, IGPs and advocate generals of all provinces, the court sought complete details of number of licenses of prohibited weapons issued so far across the country.

During the course of hearing, CJP Faez Isa observed that the police did not even ask for license from whose house the weapon was stolen. He said the owner himself was confessing to the crime, adding that two Kalashnikovs, two black rifles and a pistol, besides other valuables, were stolen. “I have also been offered to get a Kalashnikov licence,” the CJP remarked but added that drugs and Kalashnikovs had destroyed Pakistan.

The chief justice observed that no one goes around the world with black glasses and Kalashnikovs in big cars. “Where did you get Kalashnikov?” the CJP asked the appellant. “If the IGPs are giving papers of such Kalashnikovs, why should not action be taken against them,” the chief justice remarked, adding that they should write to the interior secretary to return all Kalashnikovs and their licenses.

“If you go to school and market, people are seen standing with Kalashnikovs,” the CJ noted saying “if you are afraid, stay at home. You go out to scare people and show your influence.”

The CJP noted that guards are standing outside houses with Kalashnikovs in Islamabad. Similarly people with dark glasses carry Kalashnikovs and the police dare not question them. “How would you know if the Kalashnikovs carrying people were terrorists or someone else,” the chief justice asked while admonishing the KP police questioning as to why they didn’t ask about the license of stolen weapons. The CJ observed that possession of arms without a license was a crime and the police did not even ask the owner in the inquiry.