RAWALPINDI: Ten members of the United Democratic Front drove to different foreign missions in Islamabad today [Oct 7] to hand over a communication. As there is no bar on visiting missions they signed the Visitors Book in eight embassies. According to diplomatic sources, no head of the foreign mission received them. In some missions they were received out of courtesy by their junior staff members and several of them advised the Opposition leaders that they could not interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs. Several other diplomatic missions, it is learnt, advised them not to call. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Quetta,] one thousand two hundred and forty Marri tribesmen handed over their arms to the authorities ... at Pazha. … This was the largest group of Marri tribesmen to lay down its arms in response to the amnesty announced by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto during his last visit to Baluchistan. The tribesmen pledged loyalty to the Government and declared support to the Government efforts in developing the most backward areas of Marri-Bugti agencies. Speaking on behalf of the tribesmen Mr. Balaghsher … expressed deep regret over their past misdeeds.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2024