UBA commander says farewell to arms

QUETTA:

A seasoned insurgent who had fought for 40 years finally bid farewell to arms after realising, “there is nothing in insurgency, but attractive slogans.”

Commander of banned United Baloch Army (UBA) Wali Mohammed Haji Kalati handed over his weapon to the chief of Marri tribe Nawab Jangez Marri on Thursday.

UBA has claimed responsibility for the recent massacre of 22 people in Mastung. Jangez Marri, central leader of PML-N, welcomed Haji Kalalti back into the national mainstream.

Kalati said he had joined the struggle for the freedom of Balochistan in 1970s. “I have been a fighter for 40 years now. I want a better and educated future for my children. There is nothing in the insurgency but attractive slogans,” he said. “My family and nation had suffered a lot in this so-called movement.” Jangez Marri, son of veteran Baloch nationalist leader the late Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, said he is making utmost efforts to make Balochistan peaceful and prosperous. “I am trying to bring the militants into the national mainstream,” he said.

“Those who talk about freedom are actually pushing the Baloch people into darkness and backwardness,” he said. “I was not tasked or given responsibility to reach my brothers, Harbyar Marri and Miran Marri, for negotiations,” he said. Harbyar and Miran, younger brothers of Jangez Marri, are said to be running insurgency in many parts of Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th,  2015.

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