NADRA to computerize arms licenses.

ISLAMABAD, August 23, 2009 (Balochistan Times): The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) would computerize the national arms licenses issued by the Federal Interior Ministry, after a scam of illegal issuance of arms licenses. The sources in the interior ministry said that the new computerized license would have more significant security features as well as the complete data of the applicant which would help stop issuance of fake or illegal licenses. They said that the projects was initiated in the past but due to some flaws in it the idea could not be materialized fully. The sources said that issuance of new arm licenses was banned after the reports of alleged involvement of Interior Ministrys staff in issuance of illegal arms licenses. Currently, as many as 5,000 applications for new arm licenses are pending with the ministry, however, on the directives of Interior Minister these would be processed after proper verification of applicants credentials. The sources said that the Ministry was considering to cancel and re-issue all those prohibited bore arms licenses which were issued during the last one year. They said the Ministry had no other option but to cancel every single license that was issued without fulfilling legal requirements. According to estimated figure as many as 28,527 prohibited bore licenses were issued from March 28, last year till June 26, 2009. However, during preliminary investigations, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has revealed that several thousand prohibited bore arms licenses had been issued illegally by middle-ranking officials of the ministry, without seeking approval of the competent authority or by using fake documents. The National Assembly Standing Committee is also looking into matter, the sources said.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)