Lethal light weapons in high demand in violence-hit metropolis

The legal and illegal sale of the light weapons in the violence-hit metropolis is skyrocketing as the target killers appear to have an inclination for using the arms that are lethal but handy. These small-sized deadly arms are: 9MM, 30 bore and .22 pistol.
According to police sources, in over 90 percent incidents of targeted killings in the city the killers had used small-size but highly sophisticated weapons during the last five months.
The sources said the culprits were using light weapons because of their small size that was not only handy but easy to hide with the body. Further, they said such types of weapons were also easily available in the city.
The police record shows that over 700 persons were killed in the last five months in the city out of which more than 625 received bullets of small weapons. According to hospital sources, these small size but sophisticated weapons were excessively being used in the ongoing targeted killings in the metropolis.
“Most of the dead bodies were affected by the bullets of small lethal weapons and were targeted from a close range”, said Dr. Lala Mubarak, a Medico Legal Officer at the Civil Hospital Karachi.
According to weapons dealers, the sale of small weapons is rapidly growing in the violence-hit city. An year-wise record of the arms sale shows that over 1,25000 pistols were sold in 2009, more than 1,60000 in 2010 while in 2011 the sales crossed the 2,00,000 figure.
“By the end of April we had sold out around 58000 pistols which by now has totaled at 80,000 pieces,” a member of Weapons Dealer Association told Pakistan Today on condition of anonymity.
Such weapons are easily available in the city both in legal and illegal way. Legal weapons cost higher than illegal weapons. On the other hand, such kind of illegal smuggled weapons are also available in the city at cheaper rates. Pakistan-made .22 pistol is the most cheapest weapon as its price ranges from Rs 4000 to Rs 8000, while the locally-manufactured 9MM and 30 bore pistols can be purchased for Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000.
The imported small weapons are also being smuggled in the city and available at the rates of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.
Locally made 9MM pistol’s cost is Rs 12000 to Rs 18000 while 30bore pistol’s cost is 10,000 to Rs 15,000.
Bullets of 9mm pistol cost 32 to 40 rupees and 30 bore pistol cost 28 to 30 rupees. China made 9mm pistol’s cost is Rs.30,000 to 150,000 while 30 bore pistol’s cost is 15,000 to 50,000. Illegal bullets of such weapons are available at 10 to 15 rupees per unit.
The dealer said the purchasers showed interest in such type of small size weapons and they imported it in a huge quantity. “China as well as Pakistan is making copies of American, German and Russian made weapons with material of good quality”, he said adding performance of such copied weapons could not be questioned.
It has been learnt that there are places in the country where different groups are assembling arms imported from various countries. These groups also have the expertise to manufacture the deadly weapons by themselves.