QUETTA. In recent times, brazen assaults at sensitive installations in Pakistan have seen terrorists wearing military and police uniforms to disguise themselves. In Quetta, markets are spilling with uniforms, caps, boots, official badges and other equipment discarded or sold by the military and police. Ironically, these bazaars are not far from security checkposts which are frequent patrolled by security personnel.

Double Road and Alamdar Road, located in the heart of Quetta, house dozens of such shops where vendors sell security forces' uniforms and related items. Similar to other commodities, military equipment and uniforms are boldly displayed to attract passers by, with prices varying according to the quality of the product.

Notwithstanding the fact that concerned authorities have imposed a ban on the sale of military uniforms, especially those belonging to the armed forces, easy availability of these items mean that vendors defy such orders.

“The police have already been entrusted to scrutinise the sale of military and police items at these shops,” Akbar Hussain Durrani, Home Secretary Balochistan, told Dawn. While Durrani acknowledged that these uniforms may be used by militants to enter sensitive installations unnoticed, he said implementing a ban on the sale is challenging.

“It is very difficult to shut down all shops,” Durrani said, adding that shopkeepers claim the business is a sources of livelihood.

Recent media reports prompted the administration to launch crackdowns against such shop owners. Consequently, some tailors closed their shops but later continued to operate through their homes.

The shopkeepers contend that the authorities should take the initiative for a practical ban on sale of such items.

“Why are these military uniforms sold to us?” asked Muhammad Hashim, a shopkeeper on Alamdar Road, adding that security forces invite bids from contractors with regard to the auction of military uniforms and other equipment. “Some countries burn such old uniforms, why can't we do so?" Hashim added.

He said the number of shops selling military uniforms and equipment has significantly reduced as vendors have abandoned this business.

“People are fed up with the registration process therefore the sale has declined,” Hashim said.

The shopkeepers have been directed to Quetta’s district administration to ensure the registration of every customer prior to sale of any item.

“The deputy commissioner’s office also verifies our sales achieved in a week,” Hashim said.

The prices of such uniforms are low as compared to the open market.

According to Hashim, the middle-class prefers to purchase second-hand coats, shoes and boots.

“They are 100 times cheaper as compared to the open market,” he said.

Moreover, equipment belonging to US and Nato troops is also easily available in the markets.

Quetta’s Double road houses a market which sells many of these prohibited items.

Armed robbers loot Nato supplies from different parts of Balochistan and then sell the equipment in the market.

“Now I can easily purchase any military uniform,” Ajmal Khan, a customer standing outside the market, told Dawn.

Balochistan has been under the grip of violence for more than a decade. Thousands of civilians and security forces' personnel have lost their lives in targeted killings, rocketing and bombings.

“The government must act against those who sell these items,” Shamsullah, 31, a government employee, told Dawn.

He, however, suggested that the government should compensate the shopkeepers and bring an end to the sale of these items.