LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has directed the Crime Control Department (CCD) to launch a province-wide deweaponisation campaign aimed at eliminating illegal firearms within four months.
At a joint press conference with IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar, Additional IG CCD Sohail Zafar Chatha said the department has been tasked with curbing the proliferation of illegal arms and reducing gun-related crimes in the province by 75% during this period.
Chatha announced a 15-day grace period for citizens to voluntarily surrender illegal weapons at CCD police stations or designated surrender centres. He assured that no legal action would be taken against those who comply, granting them full legal indemnity. However, he warned that strict measures would follow once the deadline ends, including province-wide raids and arrests of offenders.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari revealed that shops of unlicensed arms dealers have been sealed as part of the government’s crackdown on illegal weapons. She said 28 arms dealers’ licences have been revoked and no new licences will be issued until further notice.
Bukhari disclosed that over one million individuals in Punjab currently possess firearms and emphasised that all licensed weapons must be re-registered at service centres. “The provincial government has zero tolerance for illegal arms possession,” she stated.
She added that 559 suspects are on physical remand while several have been jailed. “Anyone attempting to incite violence or forcibly shut down markets will face terrorism charges,” Bukhari warned, noting that a Special Prosecution Cell has been established to ensure strict implementation of the law.
