By Shafaat Yar Khan
A recent road rage incident in Lahore has once again highlighted the disturbing rise of urban gun culture in Pakistan. The horrifying episode at Dharampura Underpass, where a private security guard opened fire on a motorist following a minor dispute, serves as a stark reminder of how armed personnel—often hired by the wealthy elite—have turned into an unchecked force, endangering ordinary citizens. As bullets tore through the vehicle, the driver barely escaped harm, only to be physically assaulted by other guards before they abandoned their vehicle and weapons. The shocking incident has left the public rattled, reinforcing a growing perception that Pakistan’s urban centers are no longer safe for law-abiding citizens, who now find themselves at the mercy of reckless gunmen disguised as security personnel.
Pakistan’s gun culture, deeply rooted in tribal traditions and conflicts in its northwestern regions, has now spilled into major cities, where the presence of armed private security has created an atmosphere of fear. The affluent class, unwilling to trust law enforcement, has turned to private security firms that operate with little oversight. This has led to a parallel policing system where security guards, meant to offer protection, instead become aggressors, often misusing their weapons in the name of self-defense. These armed men, rather than respecting the law, behave as enforcers for their employers, treating ordinary citizens as second-class individuals who must step aside or risk their wrath.
This is not an isolated incident. The streets of Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad have witnessed countless cases where private security guards, rather than maintaining order, have unleashed violence upon unsuspecting people. Just a few months ago, a shocking case surfaced in Karachi where a private guard shot and killed a motorcyclist over a minor parking dispute. Similarly, in Islamabad, a security guard posted outside a politician’s residence fired upon a pedestrian who accidentally stepped too close to the premises. These incidents highlight a pattern of lawlessness that goes unchecked, despite public outrage and government assurances.
One of the major concerns with this urban gun culture is the ease with which these private security guards obtain their positions. Many are hired with minimal background checks, little to no training, and inadequate psychological evaluations. With a lack of professional training in de-escalation techniques, these guards often resort to brute force at the slightest provocation. Their employers, mostly elites who seek to exert their influence, provide them with lethal weapons without any accountability. As a result, a minor argument in traffic, a simple misunderstanding, or even a perceived slight can lead to gunfire in the middle of a public road.
The Pakistani government, despite repeated incidents, has been unable to regulate the private security industry effectively. The rise of private security companies, often backed by powerful individuals, has made it difficult for authorities to impose stricter control. Protests by civil society groups and calls for legislative reforms have been largely ignored. Law enforcement agencies, already struggling with an overstretched police force, have been ineffective in monitoring these guards, let alone holding them accountable for their reckless behavior.
Citizens are left wondering how long they will continue to live in an environment where guns are drawn over trivial matters. Public spaces, once meant for peaceful coexistence, are now potential crime scenes, with civilians constantly on edge, never knowing when an argument might turn deadly. The increasing number of unregulated firearms in urban areas, coupled with an aggressive mindset among private security personnel, is pushing Pakistan’s cities toward a state of lawlessness. The absence of a strong legal framework to hold these guards and their employers accountable means that such incidents will continue to occur.
In a civilized society, security personnel should be protectors of the public, not a threat to it. The growing culture of private gunmen operating with impunity only reinforces the idea that power belongs to those who wield weapons. This lawlessness not only emboldens the elite but also deepens the divide between the privileged and the common man. The very institutions responsible for upholding the law appear powerless before this armed menace, leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves in a system that has failed to protect them.
The government’s inaction in addressing this issue raises serious concerns. Despite mounting evidence of the dangers posed by unregulated private security forces, there has been little effort to implement strict firearm regulations, mandatory training programs, or psychological evaluations for armed personnel. Without proper oversight, these so-called security providers will continue to act as rogue enforcers, creating an atmosphere where violence is normalized, and the rule of law is disregarded.
Pakistan stands at a crossroads, where it must decide whether to rein in this culture of unchecked firearms or allow its cities to descend further into chaos. The alarming trend of private security guards taking the law into their own hands is not just a symptom of a failing system—it is a direct threat to public safety. Unless decisive action is taken to curb this dangerous culture, it is only a matter of time before another road rage incident turns fatal, another pedestrian is gunned down over a misunderstanding, and another innocent life is lost to an untrained, unchecked trigger-happy guard. The time to act is now, before Pakistan’s urban streets become permanent battlegrounds.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance.
