Punjab plans life term for illegal weapons possession under new ordinance
LAHORE: The Punjab government plans to introduce tougher penalties for illegal weapons possession, including life imprisonment and confiscation of property, under a proposed ordinance.
The Crime Control Department (CCD) has drafted the ordinance. It will come into effect after approval by the Punjab governor.
Under the proposed law, people holding illegal weapons will get 15 days to surrender them voluntarily. Anyone found with an illegal weapon after the deadline could face life imprisonment and confiscation of property.
Overseas Pakistanis get a surrender route
The proposed ordinance will also allow overseas Pakistanis to surrender illegal weapons through authorised representatives. This gives Pakistanis living abroad a way to comply with the law without travelling back themselves.
Meanwhile, Additional Inspector General Sohail Zafar Chattha will supervise the operation to recover illegal weapons across the province.
The CCD has completed the draft ordinance, which now awaits the Punjab governor’s approval. The proposed penalties and the surrender deadline will apply only after the ordinance is finally approved and implemented.
Why Punjab is moving now
The CCD has been active across Punjab in recent months. Earlier this month, two suspects were killed in CCD encounters in Faisalabad, and a CCD encounter in Multan made headlines this week.
The province has also been expanding its policing footprint. Punjab recently launched 33 mobile police stations with FIR registration services, and the provincial police reported arresting more than 116,000 criminals in an earlier crackdown.
The new ordinance would add a legal weapon to that enforcement drive: a time-bound amnesty followed by severe punishment. The 15-day window is designed to separate those willing to comply from those who are not.
What the ordinance changes
Possession of unlicensed arms is already an offence under existing law. The proposed ordinance raises the stakes sharply by attaching life imprisonment and property confiscation to it.
That combination is meant to deter. Illegal weapons feed street crime, robberies and targeted attacks in Punjab’s cities, and the government is betting that the threat of losing both freedom and property will push holders to surrender.
The inclusion of overseas Pakistanis is a practical step. Many families in Punjab have members abroad, and weapons are sometimes registered in the names of people who no longer live in the country. Allowing surrender through authorised representatives closes that gap.
The ordinance route also matters. An ordinance takes effect once the governor signs it, without waiting for the provincial assembly to pass a bill. It is a faster path, though it must later be laid before the assembly.
Key points of the proposed ordinance
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Drafted by | Crime Control Department (CCD) |
| Approval needed | Punjab governor |
| Surrender window | 15 days for voluntary surrender |
| Penalty after deadline | Life imprisonment and property confiscation |
| Overseas Pakistanis | Can surrender through authorised representatives |
| Recovery operation | Supervised by AIG Sohail Zafar Chattha |
Until the governor approves the draft, the ordinance remains a proposal. Its final shape, including the exact penalties and the surrender deadline, will be set at implementation.
Frequently asked questions
What penalties does the proposed ordinance carry?
People found with illegal weapons after the surrender deadline could face life imprisonment and confiscation of their property, under the draft prepared by the Crime Control Department.
How long is the surrender window?
The proposed law gives holders of illegal weapons 15 days to surrender them voluntarily before the tougher penalties kick in.
Can overseas Pakistanis surrender weapons?
Yes. The ordinance will allow overseas Pakistanis to surrender illegal weapons through authorised representatives, so they do not need to travel back to comply.
When will the ordinance take effect?
After the Punjab governor approves the draft. The CCD has completed the draft, and it is now awaiting that approval.
