QUETTA: More than 300 members of various banned outfits submitted their weapons Saturday morning during an event at the Balochistan Assembly.
Chief Minister Balochistan Sanaullah Zehri, Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa among other civil, military leaders attended the event.
The militants submitted their weapons and were given Pakistan’s flag and a flower in return.
Ceremonies of this kind have now been happening regularly in different parts of Balochistan during which hundreds of militants have surrendered by now.
A Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) commander along with 22 other militants surrendered on Friday, according to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during a ceremony at FC Madadgar Headquarters Quetta.
The event was attended by Home Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti along with a large number of civil and military officials.
On February 22, a key commander of BLA, Kafeel Mengal, along with 14 of his accomplices, surrendered to the security forces.
The decision to surrender weapons came on the same day Pakistan Armed Forces launched a nationwide military operation ‘Radd-ul-Fasaad’, to tackle growing terrorism in Punjab, along with continuing ongoing operations across the country.
Later in the day, ISPR Director General (DG) Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted: “Patriotic Baloch continue to reintegrate voluntarily with mainstream society rejecting foreign-sponsored terrorism in Balochistan”.
Patriotic Baloch continue to reintegrate voluntarily with mainstream society rejecting foreign sponsored terrorism in Balochistan. (1of2) pic.twitter.com/EuKbzD4z5H
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) December 9, 2017
He further tweeted, “Self-realisation by misled Balochs reflects success of relentless efforts by civilian-military leadership towards a ‘khushhaal’ Balochistan”
Self realisation by misled Balochs reflects success of relentless efforts by Civ-Mil leadership towards #KhushHalBalochistan. (2of2). pic.twitter.com/Oaf7tSRm1w
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) December 9, 2017