At least 60 suspected militants arrested during the 2009 military action in Swat district were re-united with their families at a ceremony at Saidu Sharif upon completion of their three-month long vocational training programme.
All these men were previously associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. After their arrest, they were imparted vocational training and religious education at the Mashal Training Center, established in 2010, as part of a rehabilitation process.
Swat Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) official Colonel Zeeshan said so far Mashal has imparted training to more than 1,150 militants apprehended in 2009 or later on the charges of having links with militants and banned militant groups.
The ISPR official said these men were trained for various skills, including carpentry, tailoring, welding and weaving. They also gave imparted education to enable them to become independent and useful members of the society.
The inmates of Mashal and Sabawoon centers are allowed to rejoin their families on the personal surety that they will remain not violate the writ of the state in future.
