ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik may not know the number of prohibited bore arms in the possession of proscribed militant organisations in the country, but he surely knows that his ministry has issued over 69,000 licences for prohibited bore weapons to members of National Assembly over the past five years.

A simple calculation suggests that on an average every member of the assembly got 200 licences for prohibited bore arms issued over the last five years. The licences are needed for automatic weapons, such as Kalashnikov and sub-machine guns.

In response to a question raised by Moulvi Asmatullah, Mr Malik informed the house that on recommendations of parliamentarians the federal government had issued 69,473 prohibited bore arms licences from 2008 to 2012.

The number is distinct from the licences for such weapons issued to members of provincial assemblies because after the passage of 18th amendment in the Constitution provincial governments can also issue prohibited bore arms licences to members of provincial assemblies. Before it only the prime minister was allowed to grant permission to keep an automatic weapon.

In a written reply the interior minister informed the National Assembly that his ministry issued 11,776 prohibited bore arms licences in 2008; 27,551 in 2009; 5,789 in 2010; 8,369 in 2011; and 15,988 in 2012.

An inquiry ordered by former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to investigate issuance of prohibited bore arms licences on fake documents is still awaited. The NA standing committee on interior headed by PPP’s Abdul Qadir Patel was asked to conduct the inquiry.

Mr Patel was not available for his comments.

In late 2009, the Federal Investigation Agency revealed that thousands of licences for prohibited bore weapons, including sub-machine guns, had been issued in an irregular manner and in violation of rules. The FIA found that fake bank receipts, forged signatures and fictitious stamps had been used by middle-ranking and junior officers at the interior ministry to issue the licences.

According to the official record, 28,527 licences for weapons of prohibited bore were issued between March 28, 2008, to June 26, 2009, and 6,000 of them were approved by former minister of state for interior Tasneem Qureshi in May and June 2009. Mr Qureshi now holds the charge of state minister for water and power.

Though the prime minister alone was authorised to issue licences for prohibited bore weapons, he had delegated the power to the minister in 2009. After receiving complaints from various quarters, including parliamentarians, the prime minister ordered the inquiry. Three section officers were found involved in the scam by the FIA, but they had challenged their indictment and the case is still pending in a court. The officers claimed that they were being made scapegoat to save people sitting at the top.

The interior minister has repeatedly informed the National Assembly that the government was scrutinising all licences and those issued in violation of rules would be revoked. However, such an action is yet to be taken.

As per normal practice, licences are issued on the recommendation of legislators, assuming that they personally know the people who would be carrying automatic weapons. However, the provision appears to have been misused because in many cases a legislator recommended issuance of dozens of permits for prohibited bore arms.