400 ethnic Balochistan militants say farewell to arms on Pakistan's Independence Day

ISLAMABAD: About 400 ethnic militants from various banned outfits in the restive southwestern Balochistan province surrendered before Pakistani authorities on the occasion of the country's 69th Independence Day today.

Militants in the restive, but resource-rich, province handed over their weapons to officials at a ceremony held in the provincial capital Quetta.

Local media footages showed that the rebels came forward one by one and surrendered their weapons as children offered them national flags during a ceremony to mark the Independence Day.

Southern Command chief Lt Gen Nasir Khan Janjua said the militants had surrendered not before the authorities but before a new thinking for a better future.

"I want to say that no would be allowed to work against the integrity of the country," he said. "Abandoning violence and adopting peaceful lives is a positive stride."

Balochistan government has announced a reconciliation policy to facilitate the return of militants to democratic process, pave way for solutions to thorny issues, and exercise a greater control over the resources of the province which has been under the grip of violence for more than a decade now.

In June, Balochistan government extended a general amnesty to militants who lay down their arms and renounce violence.

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province which borders Iran and Afghanistan, is rife with sectarian and Islamist violence.

The nearly seven million residents of the province have long complained of neglect by authorities and that they do not get a fair share of the abundant resources and mineral wealth.

Home Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Provincial Minister for Irrigation Nawab Jangayz Marri, Deputy Speaker Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and senior military and civilian officers were among those who attended the ceremony today