Balochistan announces Rs1.38b bounty for 39 'most-wanted terrorists'
PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The Balochistan government has published the names and photographs of 39 individuals in major newspapers, declaring them "most-wanted terrorists" and announcing substantial cash rewards for information leading to their arrest.
Among those listed are Bashir Zeb, the head of the proscribed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militant group, and Gulzar Imam, also known as Shambay, a key commander of the Majeed Brigade, a BLA suicide wing. Each carries a bounty of Rs250 million. Both individuals are reported to belong to Kech district.
A half-page advertisement titled “Most Wanted Terrorists” appeared on the front pages of leading newspapers on Wednesday. The advertisement carried the names, aliases and photographs of the suspects and invited the public to share information about their whereabouts.
According to the announcement, rewards of up to Rs250m were set for actionable intelligence against individual suspects. The total reward amount announced by the provincial government stood at Rs1.38 billion.
The government assured that any credible, accurate, and actionable information would be acted upon promptly, while the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential.
To facilitate public cooperation, two helpline numbers — 1719 and 1218 — were provided.
The move comes amid intensified efforts by the provincial government to counter militancy and dismantle networks involved in terrorist activities across Balochistan.
Authorities have urged citizens to cooperate in the interest of peace and security, reiterating that public support remains crucial in combatting terrorism in the province.
Balochistan has been facing insurgency for years, with terrorists from the banned ‘Fitna-al-Hindustan’ militant group recently launching a terror attack at several sites, leaving dozens of citizens dead.
In a counter-operation by security forces, 216 terrorists were killed, while 22 security personnel embraced martyrdom.