Pakistan panel approves firearm licenses for lawmakers despite national ban

A parliamentary committee in Pakistan has directed the Interior Ministry to issue firearms licenses to federal lawmakers, despite a nationwide ban on new weapon permits and a history of previous misuse that led to the revocation of this privilege in 2013.

During a National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior meeting chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz, Ministry of Interior officials briefed lawmakers on the matter. Committee member Tariq Fazal Chaudhry explained that members of Pakistan's National Assembly (MNAs) require personal weapons for security, particularly those representing tribal districts who face credible threats.

This decision raises concerns, as Pakistan already struggles with widespread weapon proliferation and gun violence. The move appears to conflict with growing calls for de-weaponization and efforts to reduce the circulation of illegal firearms across the country.

"If businessmen who pay billions in taxes deserve security, MNAs should have the same right," Chaudhry argued. Another lawmaker, Khawaja Izharul Hassan from Sindh, noted that several legislators, particularly those from Karachi, are already struggling with expired firearms licenses.

Need weapons 'at the very least'

The discussion expanded to include concerns about license renewal delays. While Interior Ministry officials maintained that applications submitted after five years would be rejected, Chaudhry countered that even those seeking renewals after just two years were facing denials.

"At the very least, MNAs should have the legal right to possess firearms," concluded Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz.

"We specifically discussed MNAs who must visit their constituencies in Sindh and Punjab, where they face security threats," Raja Khurram told Nukta. "Based on Tariq Fazal Chaudhry's recommendation, I directed the issuance of one or two licenses to such MNAs. Many of them already had licenses, but they had expired."

The Ministry of Interior had previously banned the issuance of new arms licenses due to widespread fraud and counterfeit permits. This latest decision to arm MNAs comes at a time when Pakistan faces mounting security challenges and widespread weapon proliferation, raising questions about whether stricter gun control measures might be more appropriate than expanding access to firearms.

However, Khurram Nawaz clarified to Nukta that the committee's directive applies only to MNAs facing security threats in their constituencies, who would be granted one or two licenses each.

Similar policy ended due to widespread abuse

A 2013 investigation revealed that over a five-year period, MNAs had obtained approximately 69,000 licenses for prohibited-bore weapons, including automatic firearms. Each MNA received an average of 200 licenses during this timeframe.

The licensing process primarily depended on recommendations from parliamentarians, who provided personal endorsements for permit applicants. However, investigations uncovered widespread irregularities, including evidence that some licenses were obtained through forged documents and violations of standard protocols.

An investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) revealed serious misconduct, where certain Interior Ministry officials used fake bank receipts, forged signatures, and counterfeit stamps to facilitate the issuance of these licenses.

Upon taking office in August 2023, Pakistan's caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti immediately banned the issuance of new arms licenses. This decision came after intense protests from National Assembly lawmakers, who had frequently complained about delays and bureaucratic obstacles in obtaining licenses.