53 ex-militants released from Army rehab centre

[Edevelop]

SWAT – More than 53 young persons were released after completion of their reformatory courses at the Pakistan Army-run centre Sabawoon that was established for the rehabilitation of former militants. Sabawoon is the first unique facility configured for rehabilitation of juvenile former militants aging between 12 to 17 years. Sabawoon centre was established in the line with the vision of Chief of Army Staff in September 2009 with initial intake of 22 juveniles. During the operation Rah-e-Rast, many juveniles were apprehended or they had surrendered. The strength of the said juveniles had been 177, out of which 102 were released so far. Aziz Ullah, a 17-year-old, fostered under Sabawoon centre and got released one year ago in the previous batch said while speaking in the ceremony that Sabawoon was a paradise. He said the former militants ware not only provided with quality education but they were also taught about ethics, patriotism and the actual meanings of Islam. He said he got second position in Malakand Board and received a laptop from PML-N leader Mian Nawaz Sharif as well. He said he would never forget the time he spent at the centre, as his success was owing to the exemplary hard work of Sabawoon. Speakers said on the occasion that there were a lot of facilities for the said juveniles at the centre, which were provided by Pakistan Army, adding that Hum Pakistani Foundation, a Lahore-based NGO also played a remarkable role in this regard. They said the basic needs of life were provided to the juveniles, who got fully nourished in a healthy environment. They said Pakistan Army and the Sabawoon School staffers worked hard to teach juveniles how to become a well mannered and a true patriotic citizen. On Saturday, the last ceremony of this institution was held at Malakand, wherein 53 juveniles, who completed their 18-month course, were released and handed over to their parents in a formal ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Brig Tariq, Minister for Finance, KPK, Humayoon Khan, Spokesperson of Pakistan Army Malakand division Col Arif Mehmood, DCO Malakand and Commissioner Malakand division Dr Fakhr-e-Alam and many other army officials with elders of the area were present on the occasion.Humayoon said “today I feel extremely obliged to come here to Sabawoon where the juveniles were being fostered by a quality education system and they were changed into a better citizen.” He congratulated the staff of the school and said that hope the juveniles would play a healthy & vital role in the society where they would be examined as a role model for the coming generations. Later on, the minister granted Rs 7 lakh for the betterment of the institution.

53 ex-militants released from Army rehab centre | The Nation

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

may they see the light; and may they realize that Allah gave them a brain and aqal (hopefully) and that they ought to utilize it properly


hats off to the Khakis - once again, for doing work (forced upon it) usually reserved for civilian government - both federal and local.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Hope these people lead a normal life now... Respect for Pak Army.

 

[A.Muqeet khan]

but what if they dont

 

[muse]

Major Mistake - Kill them all - or solitary for life._

 

[Jango]

Major Mistake - Kill them all - or solitary for life._

I think these people are first screened before being enrolled, the hardcore ones still get killed, while the softies get enrolled here.

 

[Nishan_101]

I am hopeful that the PAK Military will going to open Schools and Colleges in interior Balochistan for teaching the people along with teaching then about ISLAM completely not as a subject so that they will know about living as a CIVIC society.

 

[muse]

There are no hard or soft ones, just like there are no good or bad ones - it does not matter who they are, they raised arms against the nation and the state - the penalty for that must be exemplary -- but of course, this is still of time of much confusion about what is Islam and whether a Muslim and a "Citizen" are complimentary notions or contradictory -- my bet is that this confusion still has legs, and so we will continue to see efforts to keep these "real Muslims" safe from harm. so that they may yet redeem themselves against the usual adversary.

See friends, these are not ordinary criminals, their offense is unpardonable -- but like I said, Pakistani security managers, the present ones anyway, have a different take, a more "religiously" informed notion of what Pakistan and a Pakistani "ought" to be and so we must be prepared to suffer greater outrages.

 

[Awesome]

Major Mistake - Kill them all - or solitary for life._

The law of Pakistan does not support carrying out such a sentence for militants that have surrendered. Unless they are tried for murder cases. I'm guessing these 53 young kids may not be involved in actual killing as per any records.

 

[muse]

The law of Pakistan does not support carrying out such a sentence for militants that have surrendered. Unless they are tried for murder cases. I'm guessing these 53 young kids may not be involved in actual killing as per any records.

There is much "The law of Pakistan does not at present support" -- of course the law is in the hands of the elected deputies (the CJP may disagree as to in whose hands the Law of Pakistan resides in) -- insurrection, rebellion and treason, we might want to start with these instead of "just" murder.

We should try and separate these acts/behaviors from those of ordinary criminals - we should endow these acts with such revulsion and disapproval that we ensure such actions will be attenuated in the future - for make no mistake, we will have insurrection/insurgency as a constant for at least another two to three decades to follow (if we survive).

 

[RazPaK]

There is much "The law of Pakistan does not at present support" -- of course the law is in the hands of the elected deputies (the CJP may disagree as to in whose hands the Law of Pakistan resides in) -- insurrection, rebellion and treason, we might want to start with these instead of "just" murder.

We should try and separate these acts/behaviors from those of ordinary criminals - we should endow these acts with such revulsion and disapproval that we ensure such actions will be attenuated in the future - for make no mistake, we will have insurrection/insurgency as a constant for at least another two to three decades to follow (if we survive).

A very commendable outlook Muse. I would have to agree with your thinking on this. As a society we must evolve!!!!!!!!

 

[Awesome]

There is much "The law of Pakistan does not at present support" -- of course the law is in the hands of the elected deputies (the CJP may disagree as to in whose hands the Law of Pakistan resides in) -- insurrection, rebellion and treason, we might want to start with these instead of "just" murder.

We should try and separate these acts/behaviors from those of ordinary criminals - we should endow these acts with such revulsion and disapproval that we ensure such actions will be attenuated in the future - for make no mistake, we will have insurrection/insurgency as a constant for at least another two to three decades to follow (if we survive).

I'm sure if the authorities would have tried them for rebellion against the state they would have faced a tough sentencing - not death though, there must be some merit to forgiving the young guys - 53 seems like a very specific number, so I think these might be some very specific cases.

Personally I am against the death penalty.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

Major Mistake - Kill them all - or solitary for life._

cant say that for certain without psychological analysis
there is a level of exposure and then every individual is unique depending on how much he is willing to accept the indoctrination.
so there is no mass brush indeed.

I think they mostly have been scouts or runners for the militants. had they been the combatants or potential suicide bombers then thats a different story and I will fully support your point of view.


a BBC Asian correspondent went on a police raid in Karachi were they apprehended a potential suicide bomber. the reporter even got the chance to interview him and the bomber was very cold and almost robotic in his responses and didnt really care who died in his attack.

the gist of his responses was, if the innocents die in the blast then its Gods will and God be praised that they will go to heaven, and if they are not innocent then all the better, my mission is accomplished.

the correspondent then talking to the camera commented that there was definitely no intake from the terrorist, he was just one way communication only repeating and reciting what he was indoctrinated with. I have tried to look up that video in BBC archives many times but couldn't find it. I am talking about 2006 time.

BBC also reported a similar rehabilitation centre for Taliban in Afghanistan who are learning other trades, playing music and the atmosphere of the centre is very relaxed and pleasant.

we must show to the general public that we are different to the terrorists and we will give the chance to those who can be reformed.

but the ones who have actually committed murders and were involved in the combat against the forces and posed with the beheaded bodies and assisted in the filming of the executions well in my opinion they deserve termination.