In a Senate Standing Committee on Interior meeting led by Senator Faisal Saleem, parliamentarians insisted that arms licenses be revived.
Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi in response said that every member of parliament would be entitled to one banned-bore arms license.
He also instructed refunds to those who had already applied during the last tenure and paid without receiving their licenses and also assured to increase the quota in high risk regions.
The meeting started by offering prayers to the victims of tragedy in Swat and various other problems were discussed such as unauthorized housing schemes in Islamabad, water problems and security arrangements during Muharram.
The wrangles heightened after Senator Haji Hidayatullah complained of unprofessional conduct on the part of DG Immigration & Passports Mustafa Jamal Qazi like failure to pick phone and rude comments. Naqvi instructed Interior Secretary to look into the allegations.
DG Qazi also informed the committee about the amendment to Pakistan citizenship bill of 2025.
The amendments would give the overseas Pakistanis, more so those who originated in countries belonging to the bilateral agreements the chance to restore citizenship that they had forfeited before.
He emphasized that the money which this group of people pays to Pakistan helps the country in terms of its economy and charity.
However, Senator Palwasha Khan questioned the bill’s real impact, to which Qazi responded that such citizens are “assets” to the country.
