1363 persons have been awarded sentence on violating loudspeaker act

Lahore: Spokesman of Home Department has said that creating religious hatred and anarchy through loudspeaker is a heinous crime under sound system (Regulations) Act 2015 throughout the province under National Action Plan and more than 1363 persons have been awarded sentence in this regard so far.

The spokesman said that protection of religious harmony and maintaining law and order will be ensured in the province at every cost. He said that government has given permission of use of only one speaker for Azan and sermon under sound system (Regulations) Act 2015. He said that in case of violation of this Act, imprisonment upto six months and a fine from Rs.25000 to one lakh or both can be awarded, therefore, ulema should follow the ban on this law.

The spokesman further said that government has set up committees headed by concerned DCOs at district level for checking record of sale and purchase of weapons and data of weapon dealers for purging the province of illegal arms which will complete their proceedings within one and a half months and present a report to Home Department. He said that strict action will be taken under the law against the elements involved in business of arms through unauthorized persons, illegal sale or purchase and incomplete record of weapons.

The spokesman said that all arms dealers have been directed to appear before the committees set up for scrutiny of record as per schedule. He said that only those weapons dealers will be allowed business whose record will be according to legal requirements. He said that Home Department will issue a list of authorized weapons dealers on the reports and proposals of committees headed by DCOs. He said that after the checking of record of arms dealers, it will be computerized with the collaboration of NADRA.