Members of banned outfits surrender to Jirga
Elders say party officials are campaigning against FCR but continue to participate in jirgas under the same law. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
A special Jirga was held in Kahan, Kohlu District of Balochistan in which several insurgents surrendered before the authorities and laid down their arms.
The Jirga comprised local tribal elders and government officials in which members of the banned terrorist organizations active in Balochistan, announced their formal surrender before the authorities.
They handed over their arms to the authorities and tribal elders and vowed that henceforth they would live a peaceful life and become law abiding citizens of the state.
The surrendered fugitives belong to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the United Baloch Army (UBA).
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They admitted that they made a mistake to take arms and live as outlaws on the encouragement of some elements but they were fed up of the life as fugitives and sabotage activities they carried out against the innocent people and now wanted to be peaceful citizen of Pakistan.
It is worth noting here that since the introduction of government’s reconciliation policy in February 2017, more than one thousand fugitives have laid down their arms in return for financial assistance from the government to start their lives anew.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2021.