Licence crisis

This refers to the letter, ‘Licence renewal’ (January 23) by Lt Col (r) Babar Afzal. I fully support the complaint of the writer for the renewal of firearm licences. The federal and Punjab governments had announced in quick succession that all firearm licence holders must apply for Nadra cards within 15 days, otherwise the licences would stand cancelled.

I braved the long line at the Rawalpindi Nadra office and managed to surrender my licences. It has been three months since I deposited my licences issued to me some 23 years ago in Nadra. Now I am told that Nadra does not have the card stock. Now I have weapons without licences renewed by the post office or Nadra cards – an irregularity committed without my intension or participation. It is recommended that the deadline for computerised licences be extended to give plenty of time to Nadra to do the needful. Second, arms licences issued to armed forces personnel should continue to be renewed at their local post offices till such time that Nadra can handle the load.

Air Marshal (r) M Arshad Chaudhry

Islamabad