Former BNA commander Gulzar Imam regrets fighting against state
Pakistan
Former BNA commander Gulzar Imam regrets fighting against state
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Gulzar Imam Shambe, former chief of the banned outfit – Baloch National Army (BNA) – said on Wednesday that he had been associated with the armed struggle since 2009 and he regretted going against the state.
Speaking exclusively with Dunya News programme "On the Front", the former head of the banned organisation said that he worked in a newspaper and later tried to become a teacher but to no avail, adding the situation forced him to take up arms against the state.
He mentioned that he had been associated with the armed struggle since 2009 and many killings and bombings had taken place on his orders.
The former BNP commander said there was no pressure on him and he was speaking from his heart out.
He mentioned that after 2001, a large number of Balochistan’s youth became armed and, at that time, some localities became no-go area for the security institution and he decided to go to those areas to join the armed organisation.
“Balochistan has failed to develop despite the abundance of resources, adding continuous injustices have created such situation for him that he took take up arms against the state,” said Mr Shambe.
He said he was the commander of Makran region and there was an occasional contact with Brahamdagh Bugti.
Responding to a question, Mr Shambe said that his mother was also happy when he laid down arms and added that Balochistan was kept backward in the name of so-called traditions.
Talking about the insurgency, he added, “Today he feels that wars only bring destruction with realisation that I should have raised my voice as a journalist regarding the problems of Balochistan.”
He further said, “Balochistan is a rich province in terms of mineral resources so its problems should be fixed on the priority.”
Talking about his arrest, he said, “The credit of his arrest goes to the intelligence agencies with some informers of Balochistan.”
Giving a message to the youth, he said they should pay attention to education and play their role in development of the Balochistan.
Mentioning the countries in which they used to operate, he said he went to Afghanistan when he got sick and used to operate from there, adding he also went to India in 2017 on Afghanistan passport and visited Taj Mahal.
Mr Shambe said that he did not want to join politics. He said that Pakistan and India should end their differences and think for the welfare of the people instead of buying weapons.
