Gun culture driving Pakistan to violent crimes

Last month, five people were shot dead and three others were critically injured as multiple gunshots were fired during a clash between two groups from the Bugti — a Baloch tribe found in eastern Balochistan — in Pakistan’s largest city Karachi’s upmarket DHA (Defence Housing Authority) area.

A case was registered in the case on behalf of the state, which the police believe, will convey “a strict message to both sides that such an act is not acceptable”.

According to Pakistan’s leading English daily Dawn, the bloodbath was led by two tribal overlords: Fahad Ahmed Nawaz Bugti, nephew of slain Balo­­ch chieftain Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, and his cousin, Ali Haider.

Local authorities said that members of the Bugti clan had a fight over some personal enmity, which led to an exchange of fire, adding that two groups, led by Fahad Bugti and Ali Haider Bugti, engaged in gunfight near the Ali’s residence on Khayaban-i-Nishat.

Officials said that police have eight suspects in custody.

Senior police officials said that both factions of the Bugti clan had old enmity, as they had lodged first information reports (FIRs) against each other at two different police stations.

“It appeared as if the two men exchanged hot words over the phone before Ali Haider Bugti descended on Fahad’s residence along with his gunmen,” a police officer said.  

Although accompanied by much shock and outrage, the bloody episode is a case study in the dark side of privilege: the sociopolitical compulsions to accumulate weapons backfire, according to an opinion piece published in the Dawn. 

The rule for peace and safety is clear — guns do not curtail crime. Instead, they kill and have repeatedly failed society, especially the vulnerable, the opinion piece read.

According to the Dawn, Pakistan needs a culture that views weapons with disdain, an infrastructure that tracks firearms, makes gun use difficult and gets tough on gun-toting private security entourages and availability — in short, sweeping gun control procedures and elite compliance. 

“It is absurd that possessing and brandishing illicit weapons is the preferred option to taking the legal course. The fact that the law enforcement is riddled with sycophants of feudal wealth and influence only ensures that little will change,” the opinion piece read.

For as long as unregulated cottage weapon industries, widespread trade and ownership of assault rifles and smuggling of vast caches of arms across the border flourish in Pakistan, their spill-over effect will be felt by both the privileged and the poor, according to the Dawn. 

“Finally, the powerful too have to extricate themselves from gun lobbies, make all firepower hard to acquire and less dangerous to use,” the opinion read. 

At present, the country is a most conducive venue for gun violence, which means more blood and tears, as per the Dawn.

According to a Firstpost report, the extreme shortage of necessary items due to the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan and the easy availability of sophisticated weapons has led to a sharp rise in violent crimes.

Firstpost in its report said that the severe economic crisis in Pakistan fuelled a rise in violent crimes.

Earlier in 2022, Pakistan’s Sindh Police had informed the Senate Standing Committee about an “alarming increase” in street crime in Karachi.

Sharing data about the law and order situation in Karachi — the capital of Sindh province, police had said that 42,669 crime incidents were reported in 2011, 30,694 in 2015, 61,244 in 2020 and 84,045 in 2021.

According to Military Wiki, there are an estimated 20 million firearms in public ownership in Pakistan, of which 7 million are registered among the country’s population of 180 million. 

The rate of private gun ownership in Pakistan is 11.6 firearms per 100 people, as per reports. 

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, the South Asian nation ranks at No.6, while the rate of homicide involving firearms stands at a rate of 12,491 per annum as of 2009, slightly higher than the United States, reports Military Wiki.

Gun ownership, especially in the mountainous northwest, is part of traditional Pakistani culture, and rifles are handed down from generation to generation for hunting and for celebratory fire. 

In the 21st century, increases in terrorist threats, and particularly in urban kidnappings, extortions, and robberies, has led to a rise in civilian demand for guns for self-protection.

Pakistan is one of the biggest open firearms markets in the world, and is in the modern era also known for its indigenous gunsmith tradition, reports said. 

According to reports, the South-Asian country is famous for producing clones of almost every notable weapon of the world. 

Although firearms are widely owned, heavy weaponry is permitted only in tribal areas within the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and this includes the circulation of rocket-propelled grenades, short, medium, and long-range rockets, anti-aircraft guns, mortars and other types of firearms, as per reports.

Firearms usage in cities and provinces is generally viewed as being for protection and sport, while in contrast, many people in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Baluchistan and rural areas of Punjab and Sindh view it as a distinct part of their culture. 

Enduring customs promote the prevalence and importance of guns, as per reports. 

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the Pashtun residents laud performances of strength and toughness, carrying an AK-47 or other gun is a sign of honor and respect. 

Aerial firing is very common on special occasions such as weddings and festivals, despite being illegal, according to reports.

In Pakistan, there are no restrictions on shotguns, while the regulation of firearms in the country is categorised as permissive. 

Pakistani citizens and a special category of foreigners can legally own firearms in the country, and a license is required to purchase a firearm. 

Acquisition of the license involves the payment of fees, a processing time ranging from a few days to months, and registration of the firearm with local authorities, reports Military Wiki.

The Pakistani Federal government issues two kinds of gun licenses — Prohibited bore, which includes fully automatic weapons, and Non-Prohibited bore, which includes semi-automatic weapons.

The country’s provincial governments can only issue non-Prohibited bore gun licenses, and their licensing jurisdiction is restricted to their particular province.

Federal prohibited bore permits for civilian fully automatic weapons are issued by the Ministry of the Interior and are valid throughout the country.

Private possession of fully automatic, semi-automatic and handguns, including pistols and revolvers, is permitted under license in Pakistan. 

Only licensed gun owners may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition, as per Military Wiki.

However, applicants for a gun owner’s license are not required to prove genuine reason to possess a firearm, and more shockingly, third party character references are not required to get a gun license in Pakistan.  Where a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in Pakistan does not stipulate that a gun license should be denied or revoked, according to reports.