NA panel demands lifting of ban on prohibited arms’ licences

ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Interior recommended lifting ban on the issuance of prohibited bore licences, at least for parliamentarians, businessmen and heavy taxpayers.

The meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior was presided by its Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz, in which officials of the Interior Ministry gave a briefing on the issuance of arms licences. Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that several MNAs of the tribal districts are facing threats and steps should be taken to issue licences to them.

Chairman Committee said that at least the MNAs should be allowed to legally possess arms. Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that taxpayers and the business community should also be issued arms licences as they are the backbone of economy. Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan said that the licences of many MNAs of Karachi have also expired. Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz said the process of renewing the licences is also being delayed.

The Special Secretary, Ministry of Interior, briefed the Committee on the Armed Licence Policy and informed the Committee that the issuance of prohibited bore v has been banned since January 31, 2024. He further explained that a PB licence requires approval from the Ministry of Interior, while a Non-Prohibited Bore (NPB) licence is issued by federal or provincial authorities. Additionally, he stated that a licence cannot be renewed after five years from its date of expiry. Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the weapon licence were not renewed even after two years.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Interior decided to include cybercrimes related to blasphemy on the agenda for the next meeting, for discussion with the related departments including FIA.

Presenting an overview of the PSDP for 2024-25,the Special Secretary briefed the committee that the total proposed PSDP demand for 2025-26 for 89 projects amounted to Rs59,301.295 million, including Rs20,430.191 million for 16 ongoing projects and Rs38,871.101 million for 73 new projects. The Committee recommended that projects related to rural areas of Islamabad Capital Territory, (ICT) rainwater harvesting, construction of dams, and water supply schemes, should be given priority. It also decided to defer the approval of the PSDP 2025-26 until the next meeting.

The Circle Registrar, Cooperative Societies Department, ICT, briefed the Committee on issues related to the National Assembly Secretariat Employees Cooperative Housing Society (NASECHS) and provided a list of possessionable and non-possession able allottees. She informed the Committee that a case involving Rs. 500 million is currently sub judice before a court. A total of 1,093 plots were allotted to NASECHS members under a joint venture between NASECHS and Federal Employees Co-operative Society. Out of these, 665 plots are possession able, while the remaining 428 plots are not yet possession able. The committee recommended to the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad submit a report on the issue within four days before presenting it to the court

Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials briefed the committee on ongoing development projects in Islamabad. The chairman of the committee said that the construction of the Sihala Bridge project is underway since 2019. He asked to instruct the FWO to complete the work. The Director General CDA said that the FWO wants to ensure timely provision of funds. Agha Rafiullah said FWO initially takes up a project and then sub-lets it. Dr. Tariq Fazal said that this is done to ensure transparency. The Interior Ministry official said that in last year Rs400 million were released for this project but when the work was not done the funds were withdrawn.