Intelligence agencies revealed that illegal arms trade is being run through Afghan slums of the metropolitan. They prepared a report on directions of the Punjab government regarding arms supply to criminal groups.
The report, prepared on arms dealers and their methods of supplying weapons in Lahore and its suburbs, states that latest and lethal arms could be purchased through dealers in Bhati Gate, Malipura, Nasirabad, Shahdara, Sheranwala Gate, Lorry Adda, Badami Bagh and Sabzi Mandi Ravi Road areas. These dealers are also involved in supplying explosives and weapons to terrorists.
In the last five years, police has recovered 375,000 illegal arms from all over Punjab and more than 110,000 from Lahore alone.
The report revealed that a large number of Afghans and people from tribal areas are involved in illegal arms dealing and supply business through support of police and politicians. This has made them so fearless that if a client offers them a good enough price, they provide home delivery as well.
Other than normal routes, the dealers take different and difficult routes for there is no possibility of checking on these routes. Additionally, incompetence and corruption of security personnel at entrance routes provide them an easy access.
Petrol pumps, buses and truck stands are considered as the safest delivery points.
The terrorists who were arrested a while ago revealed during investigations that weapons were transported via secret compartments in buses and trucks. Lahore police is still unable to find the dealers however.
Police sources say that Punjab police registered cases against thousands of people after recovering illegal arms from them but no dealer was ever arrested who supplied arms to them.
Investigation officers of illegal arms cases usually accept bribes and allow the suspects to go scot free.
The uninterrupted supply of arms to criminals is considered to be a major reason in the prevalent sharp increase in killings and other crimes in the city.
