Humayun gave 300 gun import licences last year

March 4th, 2008 durrani · No Comments

FORMER Federal Minster for Commerce, Humayun Akhtar Khan, in his last year of tenure, allegedly issued over 300 import licences for weapons.

In his last year as minister, he issued over 300 new licences for shotgun import, worth over Rs 450 million, as compared to the past figure of only 80 licences, worth only Rs 50 million, sources told The News.

Interestingly, the minister also issued import licences for areas where they were not needed. On the other hand, he also allegedly increased the import ceilings of some powerful old importers to stop them from raising voice against his act.

Sources in the ministry of commerce and industry said shotguns and other licensed weapons were expected to be in great demand before the general election, so the minister obliged other ministers, members of the National and Provincial assemblies and senators. “Apparently, the minister was not involved in the sale of import licences but his men operated closely and received the share of the minister on every licence,” they charged.

They alleged the bribe received on every licence was about 5 per cent of the total amount of the licence. “Almost every licence was issued on the recommendation of the minister. “On his recommendations, government authorities concerned were annoyed at the fact that the file would open some time in the future,” they added.

Interestingly, two licences each, worth around Rs 5 million, were issued for two districts of the Punjab - Mianwali and Sargodha - where there has been no demand for shotguns and other licensed weapons in the past.

Industry sources said, “Previously, there were not more than 80 licences for the import of weapons across the country, but the last government had increased it to almost 400. The issuance of a large number of import licences not only created problems for the old importers but also unbalanced the trade.” They said it also hit a limited shotgun industry of Pakistan which had already been facing a cutthroat competition.

Talking about the sale of shotguns, sources said Chinese weapons had outclassed others due to almost half prices and attractiveness. The price of a Chinese pistol is between $100 and $150 as compared to Russian, German, Italian and Austrian weapons which are very costly. A Chinese pistol is handy and easy to carry. The price range of pistols of other countries ranges from $20 to $700. Sources said China had remade models of all weapons. They said the sale of shotguns and other licensed weapons had increased one month before the election. “There were two reasons for the high sale of weapons - due to the hunting season and a show of power by candidates on the election,” they added.

When contacted, an official spokesman of the ministry of commerce, Ashraf Hayat, said the issue was not concerned with his section. “It is the issue of the import section, so better talk to the section,” he suggested.

When contacted, the Joint Secretary of the import section of the ministry of commerce, Ashraf Khan, confirmed the number of import licences had increased during the last year. He said a new policy was developed for the import of weapons and new licences were issued only to those who had qualified for them and completed the procedure.

To a question, he admitted the minister was the highest official of the ministry and if he recommended any case, it had to be implemented. To another query that how many licences had been issued during the last one year, “I don’t know the number,” he remarked.

Former Federal Minster for Commerce, Humayun Akhtar Khan, admitted the import of weapons had increased in the last year of his government. However, justifying his government decision, he said the government had banned weapon licences in 1999, resultantly the import had also stopped. “However, after the new government was formed in 2002, it relaxed the ban,” he added.

He said, “In 2004, the cabinet approved the issuance of new import licences. But the ministry issued new licences only to serious weapon dealers. Besides new licences, the ministry also enhanced the ceiling of old weapon importers on the basis of their history,” he added.

To a question about the bribe allegedly received for new licences, the former minister said some MNAs and ministers also recommended licences which were legitimate. “However, the issuance of new licences was suspended some time before the tenure of the government completed,” he concluded.