Lahore:
In Punjab, the smuggling of illegal weapons has become a standard, which raises serious concerns concerning the effectiveness of law enforcement organizations concerning their ability to curb this activity. Even if a large number of illegal weapons are seized, many are declared legal on paper.
In addition, standard numbers are also modified to hide the origins of these weapons. The absence of strict application has contributed to the growing scale of this company, which has prompted many citizens to keep arms for their own protection.
A resident of Lahore, Muhammad Usman, shared that his work line had forced him to regularly collect money on the Shah Alam market and to transport it to the bank or his home. “Due to the security risks involved, I sometimes carry a firearm legally approved for protection. Thieves and bandits often use past or stolen firearms to make crimes. When illegal firearms are seized, the legal laboratory documents the unique marks of the balls drawn from these weapons,” said Usman.
According to Data Obtained by the Express PK Press Club from the Police, in the First Three Months of 2025, 2.535 Illegal Weapons Were Seized in Sheikhupura, 2.393 Illegal Weapons Were Seized in Lahore, 1,388 Illegal Weapons Weapons Were Seized in Gujranwala, 897 in Rawalpindi, 897 in Rawalpindi 1.455 in Sargodha, 1.546 in Faisalabad, 1,027 in Multan, 753 in Sahiwal, 833 at DG Khan and 561 in Bahawalpur, against which business was recorded.
It seems that weapons are billed to the Punjab of Dara Adam Khel in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). AIG police on punjab surveillance Khalid Mahmood said the police launched a repression on the province’s scale against smuggling, with a large -scale weapon operation currently underway. “Whenever the police receive information, the weapons are confiscated from the location and that the official cases are recorded against the accused,” said Mahmood.
On the other hand, police sources have revealed anonymously that many people in certain regions were known to have illegal weapons. “The police know which owns these weapons or is involved in their illegal trade. However, if they receive the pressure from the higher authorities, they take measures; otherwise, the case is often settled quietly,” said a manager.
It has been revealed that these dealers often end with others to obtain false licenses for weapons. In addition, they plan and coordinate the smuggling of illegal weapons in vehicles, sometimes hiding them in plants or cargo trucks during transport. Alarming, if a customer asks, the weapons are even delivered alongside their families to avoid suspicion.
A tiktker known as Bobby Malik would have sold illegal weapons under the name of Arms al-Islam using forged documents. Likewise, Haji Zarwali Khan’s weapons dealer in Bhaati Gate, Lahore was sealed and his license suspended after finding that a sales agent operated illegally under the same license. The other suspended arms dealers include Mian Khalid & Company, Katchehri Bazaar, Faisalabad, Chakwal Armory, Commercial Market, Talagang Road, Chakwal, Sarhad Arms, Marhaba Plaza, District Attock, Javad & Company, Katchehri Bazaar, Faisalabad.
Previously, the department of origin has taken strict measures against 19 false arms dealer. The secretary at the Maison du Punjab, Noor-Ul-Amin Mengal, said that the sale of weapons based on false licenses was a serious crime, and that all those involved will be brought to justice. “Under the rules of Punjab Arms 2023, the ministry returns the licenses of all the weapons merchants in the province. Until now, 386 arms dealers have been issued computerized commercial licenses after verification.
According to a spokesperson for the Department of the Punjab House, all weapons transactions with these false dealers are illegal and judicial measures will be taken against the people involved. The ministry asked that these sealing weapon dealers’ stores remain closed until further notice.
