Arms, ammunition worth millions go missing: report

LAHORE: Shocking revelations have emerged from the 2023–24 audit report of the Punjab Home Department presented in the Punjab Assembly.

The report discloses that arms and ammunition worth millions of rupees have gone missing from multiple districts. According to the audit, the weapons and ammunition were either stolen or remained unrecovered in 12 districts. The total missing inventory is valued at over Rs245.5 million, and no recoveries have been made so far.

The audit reveals that arms and ammunition worth over Rs 83.4 million went missing from the DPO Muzaffargarh Office between 2021 and 2023. Similarly, the DIG Operations Lahore Office reported missing weapons and bullets valued at more than Rs47.1 million. From the Police Office Lahore, over Rs46.8 million worth of arms are still unrecovered. The CPO Multan Office also reported disappearance of rifles and ammunition worth over Rs7.4 million. Records for rifles issued to officers of the Central Jail Lahore in 2009 are also missing.

Weapons and equipment have also gone missing from the offices of several DPOs. These include Rs5.614 million in Sialkot, Rs4.3 million in Sahiwal, Rs3.8 million in Okara, Rs3.5 million in Gujrat and Rs2.6 million in Faisalabad. Home Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal has taken notice and ordered an inquiry. A three-member committee has been formed under the supervision of the additional IG Special Branch. It includes the director general of the Directorate of Monitoring (Home) and the additional secretary (Judicial). The inquiry committee has been directed to submit its findings within 10 days and respond to the irregularities identified in the audit.

According to the Home Department spokesperson, it does not directly store weapons which remain under the custody of law-enforcement agencies. Each agency is responsible and accountable for its assigned arms. The department has assured that strict action will be taken against those found responsible once the inquiry report is complete.