50 'katcha dacoits' set to surrender

Sindh cabinet has already approved voluntary surrender scheme

KARACHI:

At least 50 wanted dacoits are set to surrender on Wednesday under a new policy introduced by the Sindh government in a major step towards restoring peace in the long-troubled Katcha (riverine) area.

"It is the dawn of peace in the Katcha region," said Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar in his tweet on the mini-blogging site X.

A special ceremony has been scheduled to mark this development, during which these dacoits - many with bounties on their heads - will formally lay down their arms and join the national mainstream.

According to an official advertisement issued by the Sindh Home Department, President Asif Ali Zardari has approved this landmark surrender policy as part of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring sustainable peace and reclaiming the Katcha areas, which fall under the Sukkur and Larkana Divisions.

Under the voluntary surrender scheme, these outlaws from the Katcha area have agreed to give up criminal activities. The special event on Wednesday will symbolise a turning point for an area long plagued by fear, crime, and lawlessness, signaling its transformation into a region of hope, peace, and stability.

The Home Department stressed that the provincial government remains committed to the complete elimination of crime and the restoration of law and order across the province. However, officials have made it clear that the surrender policy should not be interpreted as a general amnesty. Those laying down arms will be subject to legal proceedings and will have to face cases in courts of law.

The Home Department also assured that all surrendered weapons and ammunition will be officially recovered, and the families of those turning themselves in will not be harassed under any circumstances.

As part of its broader rehabilitation efforts, the provincial government has pledged to provide health, education, and welfare facilities to the Katcha area. Closed schools and dispensaries will be reopened in phases, while surrendered individuals will be offered technical training and employment opportunities to help reintegrate them into society.

To ensure effective implementation, the Home Department has set up dedicated monitoring committees as well as a Redressal Cell to address concerns and oversee progress. Development projects focusing on social and economic uplift will also be initiated across the Katcha belt.

The surrender policy will be reviewed on a monthly basis and amended as per ground realities, with oversight from police, district, and divisional committees. The provincial authorities reiterated that the initiative aims to bring lasting peace and should not be seen as an exemption from accountability.

The Sindh cabinet has already given its formal approval for this policy, recognising it as a crucial step towards lasting social development and the rehabilitation of conflict-affected communities in the Katcha area.