The Tragic Killing of Abid Khan Highlights Pakistan’s Gun Culture and Weak Law Enforcement

By Mishal Zia | January 20, 2024 | Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Twenty-one-year-old Abid Khan was shot dead on his wedding day in Peshawar, turning what should have been a celebration of love into a scene of tragedy. Abid was about to marry the love of his life when the unthinkable happened.

His father, Riaz Khan, recounted the horror: "They killed Abid on the spot. He was my only son, the only breadwinner for our family. I am too old to work now." Family members have been waiting for justice ever since. "They killed Abid in January this year. We are still waiting for justice," said one relative.

The incident also highlights cultural customs in Peshawar. During the wedding, the family barred the use of cameras and restricted photographing women, following local traditions in which women do not show their faces to anyone outside the family.

The accused, Shahzad, Shabbir, and Shah Fahad, reportedly fled when the police raided their homes. The case brings attention to a critical issue in Pakistan: the easy access to weapons and the weak enforcement of the Arms Ordinance of 1965, which requires citizens to obtain licenses to carry guns. Tribal areas remain largely exempt, and many weapons are held without registration or oversight.

This problem is not new. I remember traveling to Peshawar as a ten-year-old when I saw a man carrying a small gun in his pocket. My father explained that everyone needs a license to carry a weapon, yet growing up, I saw guns being fired openly at weddings as a form of celebration, often without any legal authorization.

Abid Khan’s murder raises urgent questions: Why are laws regulating firearms not enforced? Why can people freely transport guns from one city to another? Why do authorities allow unlicensed guns at public events such as weddings? Is this system safe for ordinary citizens? The answers are unclear, but one thing is certain: weak enforcement, cultural acceptance of guns, and lack of accountability are costing lives.

This tragic incident should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to enforce weapon laws strictly, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent further senseless loss of life. Until then, the people of Pakistan remain at risk, caught between culture, lax enforcement, and lethal weapons in the wrong hands.

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