The Ministry of Interior has instructed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to develop a state-of-the-art system for the issuance of computerized arm licenses.

It was stated by NADRA Chairman Ali Arshad Hakeem while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Interior about the arms license project at the arms license issuance site of the NADRA’s Regional HQ, Islamabad.

Senator Talha Mahmood, along with other committee members and NADRA officials, attended the briefing. Hakeem said that the Ministry of Interior had introduced a secure computerized arms license Management System as a replacement of the existing system. He said security is an essence of the reliability of any particular identity document. The current situation in the country demands that a document as sensitive as the arms license be developed in a highly secure platform. In continuation of the background security checks employed in this new system, physical security features are added to strengthen its reliability. The design of the software application of ALP is based on an explicit and emphasized consideration to security, transparency, flexibility, scalability, and efficiency.

He said the core deliverable of the system is a card, which will entitle the holder of the license to possess an authorized weapon.

He told the Senate Committee that the card had been printed on a chemical substrate which is the same as used in the production and preparation of the current Computerized Pakistan National ID Card.

He said weapons for which license are permissible have been categorized as Non-Prohibited Bore (NPB) & Prohibited Bore (PB) for which computerized arms license will be issued within 15 days of receiving the demand note from the applicant which computerized arms license will be issued within 15 days of receiving the demand note from the applicant while computerized Arms License will be valid for a period of 5-Years. The demand note, a secured paper with multiple security features, he added is being issued to the applicant 4 days after receiving the duly filled application after which verification of his/her CINC and other quality control checks would be undertaken, he added. He said the process would be systematic and transparent including approval of Ministry of Interior, a Secured Weapon Procurement Authorization (Demand note) is generated with an encrypted barcode. NADRA ensures production and distribution of cards and generate instant reports for management decision while a Web portal for MOI is also being made for the reporting of Arms licenses issued. The application forms are received at NADRA center with fee in cash after which the scanning and data entry of the application form(s) is being done subject to verification of applicant’s CNIC. NADRA is responsible for feedback generation to MOI and applicant, if form is rejected.

 NADRA issues cards to new applicants and process applications for modification and renewal of the card also. NPB License is being issued to those Security Companies who have the approval from Ministry of Interior.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that no arms license except issued by NADRA will be valid after August 31.

"All arms licenses issued by the Ministry of Interior shall stand ceased with effect from September 1, 2011", he said and advised the arms license holders to approach the nearest NADRA office for new license.

He was talking to media after presiding over a high level meeting at National Crisis Management Cell here on Monday.

Inspector General Sindh Police Wajid Durrani was also present on the occasion.

He said strict action will be taken against holders of illegal weapons and fake licenses who may face jail terms for 7 to 14 years.

The minister said that a large-scale campaign would be launched for recovery of illegal arms after August 31.

He announced cash rewards for giving information about illegal arms adding Rs 20,000 will be given for information about illegal Kalashnikovs and Rs 50,000 for information leading to recovery of LMG or Rocket launcher.

Name of informer will be kept secret.

He said a special cell headed by Deputy Inspector General Police is being set up to deal with 'bhata' mafia.

He said strict action will be taken against those who have had past criminal record without any discrimination.

"It has also been decided that Karachi will be de-weaponized in phases", the Minister added.

He also appealed to the people to get information about their mobile phone SIM by dialing "668" so that it could not be misused.

The meeting was attended among others by Home Minister Sindh Manzoor Hussain Wassan, IGP Wajid Durrani, Commander ISI Brig Shafiq, CCPO Karachi Saud Mirza and General Manager Sindh NADRA Zahid Ahmed.

ISLAMABAD: National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has started the revalidation process of arms licenses issued by the Interior Ministry.

The NADRA has a state-of-the-art infrastructure of centres, comprising trained and qualified manpower with the capability and capacity to develop and manage the arms licenses management system.

The process will provide transparency and authenticity of arms licenses and proper data will be available with the Interior Ministry, NADRA deputy chairman Tariq Malik said on Friday. He said NADRA would process arms licenses on behalf of the Interior Ministry, however, the approval of each license application was the sole discretion of the Interior Ministry. The NADRA will only process the applications, which have the approval of the Interior Ministry.

He said original CNICs and original licences (along with photocopies) were prerequisite for revalidation along with application form available at NADRA centres and Interior Ministry website.

NADRA will verify CNICs from its database to check the genuineness of an applicant, while the applicant’s credentials would also be checked by different law enforcement agencies.

The card renewal fee of Rs. 1, 100 for prohibited bore (PB) license and Rs. 600 for non-prohibited bore (NPB) license will be charged along with any payable in respect of government license renewal fee due. The original booklet will be retained by NADRA. All original booklets will be forwarded by NADRA to the Interior Ministry for post verification.

Islamabad—National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) has started the revalidation process of Arms Licenses issued by Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan. NADRA has state of the art infrastructure of Centers, comprised of trained and qualified manpower with the capability and capacity to develop and manage Arms License Management System.

The process will provide Transparency and Authenticity of Arms License and proper data will be available with the Ministry of Interior (Govt of Pakistan). Deputy Chairman NADRA, Tariq Malik stated this in a statement issued here on Friday.

He said NADRA will process Arms Licenses on behalf of Ministry of Interior; however the approval of each Arms License application is the sole discretion of MOI. NADRA will only process those applications which have the approval of MOI.

He said original CNICs and original licenses (alongwith photocopies) are pre-requisite for revalidation alongwith application form available at NADRA Centers and MOI website. NADRA would verify the CNICs from its database to check the genuineness of an applicant.

ISLAMABAD: 

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has initiated the revalidation process of arms licences after evidence surfaced that thousands issued by the interior ministry are forged against the backdrop of rising incidents of violence.

“It’ll be difficult for us to verify the licences without complete documentation,” a senior official of the Arms Licence Management System (ALMS) told The Express Tribune. “Around 32, 000 fake arms licences issued by the interior ministry in the last three years will be forwarded to NADRA Registration Centres (NRCs) for confirmation.” Despite the ban around 8,590 arm licences were issued by NADRA on the PM’s directions, he said. “We are not entertaining incomplete applications at all.” Notices sent by the government to NADRA for 178 arm licences were fake, he added. NADRA is likely to raise the issue of 138 forged licences issued to foreigners with the interior ministry’s approval.

A Senate panel was informed in April that these licences were issued to American defence contractor, DynCorp, which paid out $0.2 million as illegal gratification with assistance from the American envoy to Pakistan in 2009.

An interior ministry spokesperson denied the allegation that they were sending incomplete data to NADRA. He said 23,000 fake licenses have already been cancelled. An employee of the Ministry of Information Technology who issued these licenses with the complicity of senior officials of the interior ministry was dismissed from service. “We have been directed to send all relevant details to NADRA to make the process transparent.” According to details issued by NADRA original CNICs and original licences are a prerequisite for revalidation. NADRA is verifying the CNICs from its database to check their authenticity while the applicant’s credentials will be vetted by law enforcement agencies. All original booklets will be forwarded by NADRA to the interior ministry for crosschecking.

NADRA has qualified personnel to develop and manage ALMS which will ensure that arms licenses are genuine. NADRA is all set to verify arms licences on the interior minister’s directions, said Deputy Chairman NADRA, Tariq Malik in a statement. “However, approval of arms licences is the sole discretion of the concerned ministry. NADRA will only process approved applications.”

NADRA has set up 158 centres where separate counters have been designated for renewal of arms licenses, officials said. There are 13 NRCs in Multan, 30 in Quetta, 14 in Lahore, 10 in Sargodha, 32 in Peshawar, 24 in Islamabad, 11 in Hyderabad, 10 in Sukkur, 13 in Karachi and one centre in G-10 sector, Islamabad. The government has extended the deadline for renewal of arms licences from August 31 to September 30. However, this project does not include computerization of manual arms licences issued by provincial governments.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2011