Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the chief of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), resigned from his position in the National Assembly on Tuesday. Mengal, who was elected as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from Khuzdar (NA-256) in the general elections on February 8, cited the deteriorating situation in Balochistan as the reason for his resignation, which is yet to be formally accepted.
In a letter addressed to National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Mengal expressed his frustration over the continued marginalization and neglect of Balochistan by the Assembly. He lamented the lack of genuine representation for the province, stating, “Our voices are met with hostility, and our people are often silenced, labeled as traitors, or even killed.”
Mengal’s resignation comes amid escalating security tensions in Balochistan following recent deadly attacks and increasing protests over enforced disappearances. He emphasized that his presence in the Assembly no longer served any meaningful purpose for the people of Balochistan, and requested the NA Speaker to accept his resignation, hoping for the province’s protection and prosperity.
Speaking to the press outside Parliament, Mengal apologized to his supporters, acknowledging that “thousands of voters would be upset.” He criticized the country’s judiciary and politicians, stating, “The biggest murderers are politicians who have made a business out of politics.”
Mengal also revealed that during a meeting at the Prime Minister House on July 23, he had conveyed his willingness to leave politics if he was no longer needed. He remarked, “It is better to open a shop of pakoras than to do such politics.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mengal called his resignation a “tribute” to his father, Sardar Attaullah Mengal, the founder of BNP, on his third death anniversary. He reiterated that the situation in Balochistan had compelled him to make this decision, stating that his presence in the Assembly had not benefited the people he represented.
Mengal, who did not cast a vote in the election for prime minister this year, had supported PTI-backed Mahmood Khan Achakzai in the presidential polls in March. In April, he also chaired a meeting of six opposition parties that led to the formation of the movement Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP).
