Illegal arms dealers in Punjab to face ATA

LAHORE: The Punjab Home Department has decided to register cases against all illegal and bogus arms dealers in the province under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Reliable sources told this correspondent that the scope of the investigation against dealers who buy and sell illegal weapons has been widened.

The sources said that Home Secretary Punjab Noorul Amin Mengal has also taken note of the imposition of only fraudulent provisions in the cases registered against nine bogus arms dealers of Lahore and has issued instructions to add Section 7ATA of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 in the cases registered against them.

They said that the home secretary has also questioned the officers concerned of the Punjab Home Department for invoking bailable provisions in the cases against these bogus arms dealers, and has warned them that no laxity will be tolerated in taking strict action against those involved in the sale of illegal arms.

When contacted, Mengal said the sale of arms on bogus licences was a serious offence under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. He said that the scope of the inquiry has been widened on the identification of arms dealers with bogus licences and a zero-tolerance policy is being followed in this regard.

The Punjab home secretary said that if any government official is found involved in helping the arms dealers with bogus licences, strict legal action will be taken against him. He said that they are also starting the process of re-verification for those arms dealers who were issued computerised arms licences.

The sources said that the documents of more than 650 arms dealers across Punjab are being examined. Out of these, 450 were issued Computerised Arms Dealer Licences by Nadra after approval from the Home Department. They said that about 200 arms dealers in Punjab do not have computerised arms licences, out of which some arms shops’ owners have died and some have not been verified or cleared.

Despite the Home Department’s clear orders to seal the businesses and shops of these arms dealers in different cities of Punjab, the local administration did not implement these orders and these people are allegedly involved in the purchase and sale of illegal weapons.