The Punjab government has decided to extend the date of manual arms licenses to the computerisation process, and the Punjab Home Department has stopped the process of validation and computerisation of old manual arms licenses. The Punjab government is going to provide a last chance to citizens and institutions that hold manual arms licenses.
Punjab Home Department officials stated that the process of revalidation and computerisation of manual weapons licenses of individuals, institutions and security companies has been stopped temporarily. The Home Department has issued a new order regarding manual weapons licenses for individuals and security companies.
Presently, the Home Department has immediately revoked all previous orders regarding manual arms licenses. Reports have also been sought from all Divisional Commissioners and Additional Judicial Secretaries regarding the computerised arms licenses from March to November. Reports have also been sought for the illegal arms deposit and disarmament campaign in Punjab.
Detailed reports were sought from the commissioners and deputy commissioners across Punjab by the evening of November 13. Reports have been sought from all districts on the applications received from March to November and the orders issued. Earlier, the Home Department had started the process of computerising manual arms licenses in 2016.
The last date for computerisation of manual arms licenses was December 31, 2020. Manual arms licenses that were not computerised by December 2020 were cancelled. The Home Department issued a letter to all Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners.
Following allegations of corruption in licensing centres across Punjab, including Lahore’s Liberty Khidmat Markaz, the decision was made to conduct a special audit to sort out corruption allegations. The AIG Inspection issued an advisory letter to officers in all districts.
In an advisory letter, the AIG Inspection Central Police Office, Punjab, has directed that a comprehensive audit of licensing centres be conducted under the supervision of SP-rank officers. A 20-point format has been prepared for the inspection, including complaints of corruption and charging of additional fees, in which issues of agent mafia, corruption and charging more than the fees will be reviewed.
The audit will also review the video recordings from the last 30 days, including sign tests and road tests. Inspection officers have been instructed to carefully review records, registers and other evidence and include observations and suggestions in their reports.
The special audit report must be submitted by November 25. According to police sources, the task of auditing licensing centres has been assigned to the audit teams of DPO offices and police lines to ensure transparent and effective investigations.