QUETTA: Militants and fugitives from various banned organisations on Friday pledged at a tribal jirga to surrender before the authorities and work for the development and prosperity of the country.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the militants promised at a special jirga held in the Kahan area of Kohlu district to hand over their weapons and live a peaceful life, saying they would not take part in any sabotage activity in future.

Tribal elders and fugitives from various banned outfits participated in the jirga.

The surrendered fugitives belonged to the banned Baloch Liberation Army, the Baloch Republican Army and the United Baloch Army.

The fugitives regretted that they were carrying out acts of terrorism at the behest of a few elements sitting abroad and said they had now joined the national mainstream by laying down arms under the Balochistan government’s policy of political reconciliation.

Since February 2017, more than one thousand fugitives belonging to various banned organisations have surrendered.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2021