Daily Times

QUETTA: Four hundred Baloch separatists surrendered in a ceremony held on Independence Day on Friday.The ceremony was held at Quetta Police Line, which was attended by Commander Southern Command Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Irrigation Minister Nawab Jangez Marri, Home Secretary Akbar Durrani, Inspector General Aamlish Khan and senior military and civil officials and tribal elders.

The separatists put their weapons one by one at a table decorated with national flag and each of them received Pakistani flag and flowers from the children standing there. The separatists expressed their emotions and feelings. They vowed that they would never fight against the state.

“We will remain peaceful and loyal to Pakistan and will live rest of the life as a Pakistani national,” they said.

Addressing the ceremony, Lt Gen Janjua said militants should join mainstream for the bright future of people of Pakistan.

“All militants should have to leave their fight against the state in order to join mainstream as progress and prosperity of Balochistan and development of their people links with the restoration of peace,” he said.

Home Minister Bugti said terrorists would not be allowed to damage Balochistan’s pace. “The militants have been given chance to surrender to live a peaceful life,” he said.