Over fifty years ago the oppressed people
of the sub-continent wanted freedom - freedom from inequity, freedom
from brutality and freedom from oppression. Although we gained
independence from foreign rulers, we have now became slaves to another
oppressor. This oppressor is more dangerous and more harmful because
he is not an outsider or a stranger but is from amongst us. This
oppressor is the person who wields power through the use of guns and
other kinds of firearms.
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Today we are unsafe, both in public
places and in our homes. A culture of violence
pervades. Differences of opinion frequently results in bloodshed.
Clashes between certain sectarian and ethnic groups has resulted
in blood baths. Feudal and influential persons freely roam
about with heavily armed guards and brow beat and mow down
whenever an insult or resistance is perceived. Police have
been entrusted with sophisticated weapons and given a
license to kill, but they have not been taught the value of life.
Tribal feuds are perpetrated and endlessly sustained with
the abundance of cheaply available fire power. We have become
insensitive to killings and mayhem. We have forgotten how peaceful
an environment without guns was. We must renounce guns today to
restore the sanity of yesteryears and for a future which is not
bloody and violent.
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The progress of a nation depends
upon the maintenance of peace, the spread of commerce, and the
diffusion of education. Guns serve no useful purpose and their
primary function is to kill a human being.
SHEHRI - Citizens for a Better
Environment calls upon you to espouse its campaign for a Gun Free
Environment and SAY NO TO GUNS and help in the spread
of this message throughout Pakistan.
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Targeting for a
Gun Free Society
It pains one to say
that violence has become a way of life in this country.
Newspapers are filled every day with the gory and gruesome
accounts of sectarian, religious, political and domestic violence,
to name a few declared " reasons " for the senseless,
repugnant and despicable acts of brutality. shamed is a society
where guns and arms of all make and model are more cheaply and
easily available in the market than good books!
Any talk of
enforcing the rule of law in a society where differences of
opinion between ordinary citizens are now being routinely resolved
on the point of the gun can at best be termed as idle talk. So,
how can the sanity of a civil society be preserved and nurtured
amidst the death rattle of a Kalashinikov!
Crime control and
punishment is an issue which can have several dimensions. Having
justice and equal opportunities, freedom of thought and speech and
accountability at all levels of society and state is a desirable
approach to ensure that a peaceful environment prevails. However,
in a country where such visions can only be found in the
manifestoes and speeches of our politicians and planning documents
of our civil servants far removed from reality, the civil society
demands more immediate measures to stem the tidal wave of
violence, threatening to engulf us all.
A viable course of
action is being outlined by three noted non-governmental
organizations of the city. SHEHRI - Citizens for a better
environment, Citizens - Police Laison Committee ( CPLC ), and the
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
( HRCP ) on 19th September 1998, at Karachi Press Club, jointly
launched a " Gun Free Society " campaign. A comprehensive
plan of action has been prepared which calls for several
administrative measures aimed at effectively taking this menace.
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Say 'NO' to GUNS!!
Pakistan does not
need external enemies: we are doing a fairly good job of slowly
destroying ourselves. Over the past 54 years, a culture of
violence has insidiously pervaded the fabric of society,
especially in the "City of the Quaid", to the point where
Karachites have forgotten that we once used to live in peace and
tranquality.
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The city has been rent with increasing
sectarian, ethic, and crime problems, resulting in blood baths and
significant loss of human lives. VIPs, sardars, waderas, politicians
and feudals consider it their prerogative to maintain heavily armed
escorts, political workers brandish weapons to intimate everyone, and
private security armed - guard business has proliferated.
Various dogmatic and obscurantist
elements add to chaos and confusion by interpreting religion and
culture as allowing and encouraging the maintenance of weapons. The
teaching of Islam, like those of all religions, promote peace and
brotherhood and its guidelines on the subject are quite clear.
"Whoever kills a human being for another manslaughter or corruption
in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all humanity"
( surah al -
Maidah, verse 32 )
" A Believer
remains within the scope of is religion as long as he does not kill
anyone unlawfully "
(
Al - Bukhari )
" Do not become
unbelivers after I pass away, killing one another "
(
Al - Bukhari and Muslim )
SHEHRI's Proposal for the establishment of a GUN - FREE
Environment
- The members of the police or any
other law enforcement authority, carrying unconcealed weapons, must
do so only whilst in uniform and having requisite identification.
- Guns must not be permitted to be
carried in a manner whereby the noble points at any person, to avoid
accidental injuries / nozzles should ideally be pointed skywards.
- Stringent criteria for issuance of
licenses be laid down and enforced without exception and not merely
on the recommendation of any MPA, MNA or Senator.
- Computerized record with complete
particulars of all new licenses should be maintained forthwith and
records in respect of licenses issued previously must be
computerized within three months. Such records should be available
with the Federation and each Province and continuously updated and
exchanged between them.
- Confiscated illegal weapons must be
utilized by law enforcement agencies or destroyed.
- No per son should be issued a
license unless it has been established that such person wield the
gun in respect whereof the license is sought.
- Other than the law enforcement
agencies the carrying of prohibited weapons, in particular the
Kalashnikov (AK 47) be banned.
- No per son has been convicted of any
offense or against whom a criminal case is pending should be granted
a license. similarly, so such person should have the power to
recommend the issuance of a license.
- Government should make and implement
policies for gradual withdrawal of all guns from the society in a
systematic and phased manner.
- Any person who ensures the seizure
of weapons should be rewarded at least 25% of the market value of
such seized weapons.
- Gun manufacturers operating in Darra
area should be inducted to manufacture weapons for armed forces and
sales by them to the public should be stopped.
SHEHRI, CPLC and HRCP urge upon the
Federal and Provincial Governments to immediately implement the said
resolution to make Pakistan a safer and better place.
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