Pak announces amnesty for Baloch militants

Pakistan’s Balochistan province government has announced general amnesty for Baloch nationalists militants fighting for more autonomy and control over gas and mineral resources in the region.

The provincial government on Friday unveiled an amnesty plan for local Balochs willing to renounce violence and start a peaceful life. The plan, aimed at ending a low-level insurgency going on since 2005, was approved in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch. The government said in an overnight statement that the meeting discussed the law and order in the province.

“It was decided that a peaceful, conciliatory Balochistan policy will be implemented so that the youngsters who want to lay down arms and join the mainstream can be granted amnesty,” it said.