Fair treatment to surrendering Taliban promised

[EjazR]

DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Fair treatment to surrendering Taliban promised

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Friday urged militants to surrender, promising that those who did it would be treated fairly.

The call could be a sign the government is seeking to exploit any potential weaknesses in the Taliban movement since their leader Baitullah Mehsud was reportedly killed in a missile strike on Aug 5.

‘Say goodbye to terrorism and start a new life,’ Mr Malik appealed to militants while talking to journalists after a ceremony at the Melody Chowk. ‘This is a new day.’

He said those surrendering would be treated on an individual basis, with authorities deciding between ‘leniency’ and prosecution.

Mr Malik said that circumstantial evidence, ground realities and reports from tribal areas indicated that Baitullah was no more.

He asked militants to present evidence of Baitullah’s voice or his video if they claimed he was alive.

He said a spokesman for Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Azam Tariq, had conceded that Baitullah had been killed.

He said the government was about to finish the collection of material evidence of Baitullah’s death.

The evidence may be in shape of footage or the report of DNA test, he added. About drone attacks, he said the National Assembly and Senate had condemned these attacks and urged the US to provide the drone technology to Pakistan.

 

[Awesome]

Well either we shouldn't promise this or if we do, we should really up hold it to the letter.

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

Any taliban involved in slaughtering of the soldiers or civilian must not be left off the hook---they must be persecuted alongwith their leaders.

The amnesty must not be blanket.

 

[waraich66]

Blood for Blood , it is the only fair treatment

 

[TaimiKhan]

Well in my opinion Rehman Malik statement is just for media & to give a impression of no wrong doing, as recently there have been concerns that extra judicial killings might have been done or happening against the taliban who have been captured or surrendered.

Becoz as per info i have from someone engaged in the action area, the merciful attitude is not being followed. Just as some said, blood for blood.

Just to share, the captured militants are being interrogated & then the area from where he belongs, witnesses are collected identifying the suspect to prove that he was with the taliban & then the militant is .....................

So i think it is a fair treatment they are getting, as they treated the people they killed worse then this.

 

[Slides]

This message is mostly for the "taliban" who got swept up the initial glory days of the TTP in Swat or joined out of fear or were forced to join.

 

[Fracker]

Becoz as per info i have from someone engaged in the action area, the merciful attitude is not being followed. Just as some said, blood for blood.

I also heard same thing while swat operation, but when major network was blown up, then surrenders were accepted by pak army, while trail would be according to the Pak army (not court). Depending on how much they will provide clues to find fazullulah.