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Pakistan probes how police weapons worth Rs 246 mn went 'missing'
Pakistan has reported the 'disappearance' of police weapons worth millions, a massive surveillance failure under the Punjab Home Department's watch that is now being investigated.
The audit report of the Punjab Home Department for the year 2023-2024 detailed the theft, disappearance and non-recovery of arms from police stores across 12 districts. A valuation of the stolen items revealed that the weapons are worth more than Rs 245.5 million. None of the arms have been recovered till date.
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What has all been stolen?
According to the report, weapons valued at over Rs83.4 million went missing from the Muzaffargarh DPO office between 2021 and 2023. Additionally, arms and ammunition worth more than Rs 47.1 million are unaccounted for at the DIG Operations office in Lahore, while weapons worth over Rs 46.8 million missing from the Police Office in Lahore remain unrecovered.
Similarly, rifles and ammunition worth over Rs7.4 million have gone missing from the CPO Multan's office. Records of rifles issued to various officers in 2009 are untraceable at Central Jail Lahore.
Weapons and equipment valued at Rs5.614 million are missing from the DPO Sialkot office, while arms worth Rs4.3 million have disappeared from the DPO Sahiwal office. Additionally, weapons and equipment worth more than Rs3.8 million are unaccounted for at the DPO Okara office.
Inquiry committee formed
Authorities have formed an inquiry committee to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing arms and ammunition. The committee will be headed by the Additional IG Special Branch, with the Director-General Monitoring and the Additional Secretary Judicial (Home) as members.
The committee has been asked to submit a report on its findings in 10 days, with details about the irregularities mentioned.
Meanwhile, the home department clarified that it does not directly store weapons; instead, the arms are held by law enforcement agencies, which are responsible and accountable for their use. Action will be taken against those found liable once the inquiry report is received, the spokesperson said, quoting the home secretary.
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