Web Desk:
Deputy commissioners Quetta and Pishin have imposed a ban on sale and purchase of toy guns on the eve of Eid ul Azha. In their separate notifications, the deputy commissioners have mentioned that toy guns have been banned to discourage weapon culture in the society.
In most parts of Balochistan, children have been purchasing toy guns instead of other toys during Eid. This culture has been criticized by civil society and intelligentsia. Other districts of the province have also imposed a ban on sale and purchase of toy guns. But their notifications with regard to the ban could not be received by the daily Quetta Voice.
“Almost all districts have imposed a ban on toy guns during Eid ul Azha”, an official of the Balochistan home and tribal affairs department said on condition of anonymity. So far, we have only received notifications from Quetta and Pishin, he added.
Despite ban on toy guns, shops and markets appeared to be still awash with toy guns. The parents have demanded of the government to launch a crackdown against shop owners selling toy guns. “Government should act against shopkeepers displaying toy guns at their shops”, Ghulam Muhammad, a father of three children said.
Throughout the day, our children have been playing with toy guns on Eid day, he said. This culture needs to be discouraged, Ghulam Muhammad demanded.