Firearm Certificate and Associated Act Excerpts for M. A. Jinnah

Sub title : Issued by the Metropolitan Police, London

Subject: History | Legal Documents | Public Security | Firearms Regulation | British Law | Personal Security

Date of publication: 1946

Language: English

Page: 23 p.

Source: National Archives of Pakistan

Serial no: 28131

Keyword: Firearm Certificate -- Firearms Act 1937 -- Metropolitan Police -- New Scotland Yard -- License | Personal Security -- .25 caliber -- .22 caliber -- Ammunition -- Commissioner of Police -- London -- 1946 | Legal Conditions -- M. A. Jinnah -- Gun Control Law -- Police Regulations

Abstract: This collection comprises the official Firearm Certificate (No. 90199) granted to Muhammad Ali Jinnah by the Metropolitan Police at New Scotland Yard, London, on 19 December 1946, along with extensive printed excerpts from the governing Firearms Act of 1937. The certificate authorizes Jinnah to "purchase or acquire" two .25 caliber firearms and one .22 caliber firearm, and to possess up to 100 rounds of ammunition. It includes detailed conditions for secure storage, reporting of loss, and change of address. The accompanying pages feature critical sections of the Act defining legal terms, outlining penalties for violations, age restrictions, and the procedures for police verification during a sale. Issued during Jinnah's stay in London for the crucial post-World War II constitutional negotiations, this certificate is a significant artifact that speaks to the perceived personal security needs of a major political leader on the brink of founding a nation amidst immense tension and uncertainty.

Description: This is a complete digital file of a primary historical document: the personal firearm license of Quaid-e-Azam M. A. Jinnah. The set includes the certificate itself (Form 2), its specific conditions and authorizations, and the standard informational booklet that accompanied such certificates, containing verbatim extracts from the Firearms Act, 1937. The documents detail not only what Jinnah was permitted to own but also the strict legal framework and societal norms regarding gun ownership in mid-20th century Britain. The certificate's issue date—December 1946—places it at a historically pivotal moment, immediately following the failure of the Cabinet Mission Plan and during intense discussions about India's partition. For researchers, this artifact provides a unique lens into Jinnah's life in London, the formalities of British administrative law, and the tangible security considerations surrounding a revolutionary leader. It complements the political narrative with a concrete record of personal precaution and legal status in a foreign capital. SCANNED BY: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF PAKISTAN.

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