Two militant leaders, 47 aides lay down arms

Published June 14, 2015
QUETTA: A man belonging to a banned militant group surrenders his arms to Balochistan Irrigation Minister Nawab Jangayz Marri during a press conference on Saturday. Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti is also seen.—Online
QUETTA: A man belonging to a banned militant group surrenders his arms to Balochistan Irrigation Minister Nawab Jangayz Marri during a press conference on Saturday. Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti is also seen.—Online

QUETTA: Two leaders of the banned militant groups surrendered along with their 47 companions here on Saturday.

Shikari Marri and Madina Marri laid down their weapons and announced at a press conference that they had abandoned their anti-state activities and would serve the people as citizens of Pakistan.

They said they belonged to the banned United Baloch Army (UBA) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

Speaking on the occasion, Balochistan Irrigation Minister Nawab Jangayz Marri, who is also chief of his tribe, Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and Frontier Corps Deputy Inspector General Brig Tahir Mehmood said the youths working for militant groups should join the mainstream because peace was needed for progress and prosperity of the province.

The home minister said the nationalist leaders living abroad should avoid patronising militancy in Balochistan.

“The Baloch nationalist leaders living in foreign countries should return to the country to join mainstream politics,” he said.

He said all law-enforcement agencies, including the FC, police and Levies force, were playing a significant role for restoration of peace in the province.

He said unrest had been triggered and incidents of targeted killing had taken place in Quetta recently after the announcement of the execution of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project which would pass through Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.