Govt cuts arms licence issuance by over 90pc

Govt cuts arms licence issuance by over 90pc.

Key points

• Khan Published September 1, 2026 Updated September 1, 2026 07: 35am.
• The committee was briefed on an intelligence-based Sindh Police operation in District Shikarpur that resulted in the recovery of minor girl Huram Saeed Pathan.
• Mr Chaudhry informed the committee that 60 per cent of those involved in terrorism incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were Afghan nationals.
• Authorities stated there was no policy for issuing business-category arms licences in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the former Fata.
• The committee was informed that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) does not routinely check passengers' mobile phones or social media accounts at airports.

Iftikhar A. Khan Published September 1, 2026 Updated September 1, 2026 07: 35am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

Only 5, 700 non-prohibited-bore arms licences issued in 13 months, Senate body informed Tallal Chaudhry states 60pc of those involved in terrorism incidents in KP and Balochistan were Afghan nationals.

ISLAMABAD: The federal administration has cut the issuance of non-prohibited-bore arms licences by more than 90 per cent, with only 5, 700 licences issued over the past 13 months under strict criteria, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control was informed on Monday.

Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry informed the committee. It met under the chairmanship of Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, that more than 100, 000 arms licences had previously been issued annually. He remarked a police character certificate was now mandatory to ensure that residents with criminal records did not obtain licences.

In practice, a parliamentarian's recommendation was additionally required, with each National Assembly constituency limited to five recommendations per month. The minister continued that prohibited-bore licences were issued strictly to entitled persons, including parliamentarians, judges, army and police officers, and recipients of national awards.

Authorities stated there was no policy for issuing business-category arms licences in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the former Fata. The ministry would brief the committee on the procedure for dealing with special cases.

On visas for Afghan nationals, Mr Chaudhry remarked no visa was issued without due diligence and that extensions were granted on a case-by-case basis, mainly on humanitarian grounds for students and those requiring medical treatment.

He remarked around one million Afghans had been issued visas over two years when relations with the neighbouring country were normal.

In practice, the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) informed the committee that Afghan visa applications were processed under 18 categories handled by the Ministry of Interior and four by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mainly for businesspeople and students. Nevertheless, delays occurred due to security clearances.

Senator Talha Mahmood remarked there should be some relaxation in the visa policy for businessmen and students.

"Afghanistan is our neighbour but its intentions are not right, " he remarked.

He ad­­ded that Afghan nationals had additionally been involved in terrorism incidents in Islam­abad and in the murder of trader Aamir.

Meanwhile, the committee was informed that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) does not routinely check passengers' mobile phones or social media accounts at airports.

"We do not check anyone's mobile phone at the airport. Only those regarding whom we have information regarding human smuggling are checked. We additionally do not check the social media of any passenger, " an FIA official stated.

Mr Chaudhry, without naming any country, remarked, "When I went abroad with my family, all of our social media was checked."

Meanwhile, the committee was briefed on an intelligence-based Sindh Police operation in District Shikarpur that resulted in the recovery of minor girl Huram Saeed Pathan. This person was kidnapped from Karachi on March 28, 2026, and another trafficked victim, Jennifer Amir. Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2026.

Iftikhar A. Khan is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with over three decades of experience in journalism. He covers the parliament, the Election Commission of Pakistan, and the Interior Ministry.

For now, govt cuts arms licence issuance by over 90pc remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.