Akhtar Mengal ‘resigns from National Assembly’ citing house negligence over Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: A seasoned politician and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal announced his resignation from the National Assembly on Tuesday.

During a press briefing at the Parliament, the BNP leader cited frustration over the lack of interest in Balochistan’s issues as the reason for his resignation.

Taking on X, he tributed his resignation to his father Sardar Attaullah Mengal. “On the occasion of the third death anniversary of my father Sardar Attaullah Mengal, I resign as a Member of Parliament as a tribute to him.”

Announcing the resignation, he wrote that the current situation in Balochistan has forced me to take this step.

“Balochistan has been continuously neglected by this House. Every day, we are pushed further against the wall, leaving us with no choice but to reconsider our role,” he wrote in his resignation letter written to the National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

Mengal decried the lack of real representation of the people of Balochistan in this assembly has left voices like mine unable to bring meaningful change. “It has become clear that our protests or expressions of opinion are always met with opposition.”

Moreover, he reiterated that our people are either silenced, branded as traitors, or worse, killed. “Under the circumstances, I find it impossible to continue to act in this capacity, as my presence here has not been of any benefit to the people I represent,” he wrote in a letter.