Mass surrender: Militants offered olive branch, promised amnesty

Lt Gen Amir Riaz voices hope that violence will soon end in Balochistan

QUETTA: Commander of the Southern Command Lt-Gen Amir Riaz on Monday offered an olive branch to all militants, including those in exile as well as those hiding in Balochistan’s hills, and promised to accept them into the national mainstream.

The offer was made at a ceremony held to mark the surrender of 202 militants, including 75 who returned from Afghanistan, at the chief minister’s secretariat in the provincial capital.

Addressing the ceremony, Lt-Gen Riaz pledged to allow all former militants a normal and peaceful life, saying that he would honour them all.

Promising a decent rehabilitation, he said that the amnesty was valid for all militants, adding that everyone would be whole-heartedly welcomed.

All misguided people, the Commander said, “are our brothers and we will heartily welcome them back, (allowing them to resume) their normal life.

According to him, the welfare of all such dissidents was the prime responsibility of all members of the civil society, government and all other institutions.

Reiterating that CPEC would benefit everyone right from Gwadar to Sherani, the district bordering South Waziristan, he said Balochistan had been a victim of violence and terror for the past 12 years.

Expressing hope that violence would soon end in Balochistan, he said everyone, no matter what their political affiliations, would soon make a concerted effort for restoring peace in the province.

Referring to elements ‘mimicking the language of the Modi government of India’, Lt-Gen Riaz said all militants should abandon violence and return to normal life. “We will welcome them all.”

He said that anyone who dared to wage overt hostilities against Pakistan, its people and its security forces will receive a befitting reply.

He said: “Pakistan will exist until the end of time and everyone must contribute in its national development.”

Militants who laid down arms, belonged to various banned organisations from Jhalawan, Marri-Bugti tribal territories and elsewhere.

They surrendered their weapons jointly before Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri and the Commander of the Southern Command.

Prominent civilian and military dignitaries also attended the ceremony. Criticising dissident leaders in exile, Sanaullah Zehri said that they were living a comfortable life abroad and misleading the people in Balochistan.

Terming the militants who surrendered their weapons naïve, the chief minister said the real culprits who misled them were all living lives of luxury abroad. He said that surrendering of arms by such a large number of militants was a good omen, heralding peace in Balochistan.

Assuring the surrendered militants financial help, Nawab Zehri said that Pakistan was a magnanimous country and would accommodate everyone who surrendered. He urged the militants attending the ceremony to tell their colleagues “not to be misled by Brahamdagh Bugti, Hairbyar Marri and Javed Mengal”.

Zehri said that he himself, Sarfraz Bugti and Changiz Marri were on the same page.

Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattha, Changiz Marri, Aslam Bizenjo, Nawab Shawani, Nawab Jogezai and a large number of provincial cabinet members and MPAs also attended the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2016.