This week, a leading national newspaper carried a half-page advertisement featuring the headline "The Dawn of Peace in the Land of Katcha," claiming that the Katcha region of Sindh has been reclaimed from dacoits. The same phrase was shared by Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar in a tweet on his X account. Both referred to the Sindh Surrender Policy, approved earlier this month by the cabinet, which allows dacoits in the Larkana and Sukkur regions to surrender their arms in exchange for government assurances of rehabilitation, livelihood, healthcare, educational access and vocational skills. The following day, a surrender program was arranged at the office of SSP Shikarpur, with the Sindh Home Minister as the chief guest - along with the IGP, DIG Larkana, Rangers officials, MPAs and political and tribal leaders in attendance - during which no fewer than 72 dacoits laid down their arms. While the mainstreaming of dacoits is a step forward, the question arises as to whether the policy truly ushers in a dawn of peace........

© The Express Tribune