Over 350 militants from Naseerabad join mainstream

Division Commissioner Usman Ali says they are part of ‘Balochistan reconciliation process’

QUETTA: As many as 350 militants from different localities of Naseerabad laid down their arms and pledged to join the mainstream on Wednesday.

A ceremony for laying down arms was held at the Circuit House Dera Murad Jamali where Naseerabad Commissioner Usman Ali and Frontier Corps Brigadier Zulfiqar Ali Bajwa welcomed the militants’ decision to shun belligerence.

Naseerabad Deputy Commissioner Qurban Ali Magsi, Assistant Commissioner Ghulam Hussain Bhangar, Municipal Committee Chairman Mir Ghulam Nabi Umrani, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Rao Munir Ahmed Zia, tribal leader Abdul Raouf Lehri, Mir Farhan Surab Magsi and a large number of civil society members were present on the occasion.

The militants who surrendered vowed to end violence and not to fight against the country in future.

Commissioner Ali extended greetings to them for renouncing subversive activities. He said the militants who laid down their arms and joined the national mainstream were part of the “Balochistan reconciliation process”.



The commissioner said the provincial government would make complete efforts to address their reservations, adding that ten shelter schools had been established to educate their children so that they would play their role for the betterment of the country in future.

Food, blankets, tents and other items were also distributed among those who surrendered.

Speaking on the occasion, Brig Bajwa said youths were the asset of the country and enemies of the state were using them for their objectives but the army with the support of the public would foil their designs. The surrendering militants had now turned their struggle for the betterment of the country, he added.

“We have always encouraged such youths and will continue to do so in the future as well,” he said adding that the province’s backwardness would end and new opportunities would be created.

He clarified that no leniency would be shown to those challenging the writ of the state.