QUETTA/KHUZDAR: More than 12 leaders of banned militant organisations and their 138 supporters surrendered to authorities in Khuzdar and Kohlu districts of Balochistan on Monday. They announced abandoning armed struggle and joining mainstream politics.

The militants belonging to the banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Lashkar-i-Balochistan laid down their weapons at ceremonies in Khuzdar and Kohlu attended by Kalat Division Commissioner Dr Moham-mad Akbar Harifal, Awaran Deputy Commis-sioner Masood Rind, Washuk Deputy Commissioner Salahuddin Nurzai, Khuzdar Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Saleem and a large number of tribal elders.

“We have surrendered after realising that we were misguided,” Maherullah of Lashkar-i-Balochistan told reporters.

“Our leaders have been leading a luxurious life abroad but they are misguiding the youth in the name of so-called freedom struggle. Pakistan is our homeland and now we will play our role in the development and prosperity of the country, especially Balochistan,” he said.

He claimed that India and Israel were funding militant organisations in Balochistan. “We apologise to those families whose loved ones were killed by militants.”

Maherullah said he was a close relative of BLF leader Dr Allah Nazar Baloch and remained with him from 2007 to 2011, but later joined Lashkar-i-Balochistan because of some differences. Seven of the militants belonging to the BLA surrendered to security forces in Kohlu.

According to officials, BLA leader Mama Shahnawaz played an important role in persuading the militants to surrender and lay down their weapons.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2016