Balochistan National Party (BNP-M) leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal reaffirmed on Wednesday that he would not retract his resignation from the National Assembly, despite the government’s assurances to address his concerns. Speaking to the media after a meeting with a government delegation led by Adviser to the Prime Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah, Mengal stated, “I have no intention of withdrawing my resignation.”
The delegation, which included Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Usman Badiani, Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, and Khalid Magsi, attempted to persuade Mengal to reconsider his decision, but the BNP-M chief remained resolute. He highlighted the ongoing issues in Balochistan, such as exploitation, missing persons, and unfair resource distribution, which led to his decision to resign.
Mengal had announced his resignation the previous day during a National Assembly session, citing the “deteriorating situation” in Balochistan and expressing his loss of faith in the state, the president, and the prime minister. He lamented that his efforts to advocate for Balochistan had been in vain and that the assembly was indifferent to the province’s issues.
Following the meeting, Rana Sanaullah told reporters that the government had urged Mengal to reconsider and continue his struggle within the framework of the Constitution and law. He mentioned that the government had submitted a “review petition” to Mengal, hoping he would withdraw his resignation.
Meanwhile, Khalid Magsi, a member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), expressed optimism that the plan proposed by Sanaullah would yield positive results.
Additionally, a delegation from the opposition, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Asad Qaiser, also met with Mengal, urging him to reconsider his decision. Qaiser indicated that Mengal had agreed to reflect on the matter and would participate in an opposition alliance meeting to discuss it further.
The backdrop to these developments includes a series of violent attacks in Balochistan on August 26, which resulted in the deaths of over 50 people, including 14 security personnel. The attacks were carried out by militants associated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), targeting civilians, police, and security forces across the province.
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