LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari announced on Thursday that shops of unlicensed arms dealers across the province have been sealed as part of a strict crackdown on illegal weapons.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Bukhari revealed that 28 arms dealers have had their licences revoked, and no new weapons licences will be issued in Punjab.“At present, more than one million people in Punjab possess firearms,” she said, emphasizing the government’s zero tolerance policy toward illegal arms possession. The minister stated that all licensed weapons must now be registered at service centres, and violators will face legal action.
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Providing further details, she said 559 individuals are currently on physical remand, while several others have been sent to jail. “Anyone attempting to incite violence or forcibly shut down markets will face terrorism charges,” she warned. Bukhari also announced that a Special Prosecution Cell has been established on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to ensure effective implementation of the law.
Commenting on broader political issues, she said that the federal government will decide the fate of an extremist group, adding that no action has been taken against mosques or religious institutions. “No mosque has been closed, nor will any be closed,” she clarified, reiterating that the use of loudspeakers without legal permission remains strictly prohibited.
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