Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Thursday said the time had come for the whole country to be deweaponised to improve the law and order.
Responding to points of order raised by senators on various issues, he said parliamentarians must play their role in this regard by avoiding carrying weapons.
He said arms licenses had been computerised and no one would be able to forge licences in the future.
Malik said after the devolution of ministries and departments to the provinces, the provinces would be issuing arms licenses and the Interior Ministry would only entertain applications of residents of the Islamabad Capital Territory.
The interior minister said after the 18th Amendment, the ministries that would not be owned by the provinces should be taken back by the federation. He said the provinces that do not adopt the ministries under the 18th amendment would be violating the constitution. Commenting on the fate of NCHD employees, the minister said the prime minister had announced to clear the pay arrears of the past nine months at the earliest, adding that he would take up the issue of NCHD employees personally.
He also proposed a committee to look into the matter. Speaking on the occasion, Mian Raza Rabbani said the third phase of the devolution process would be complete by June 30 and assured the House that no employee of the devolved ministries would be fired or displaced.
