Sardar Akhtar Mengal, chief of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), resigned from the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Mengal was elected as an MNA from Khuzdar (NA-256) in the general elections held on February 8.
The veteran politician’s resignation — which awaits acceptance — comes amid heightened security tensions in Balochistan.
Mengal was elected to NA-256 in the General Elections held on February 8.
In a letter addressed to NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Mengal said the “prevailing situation in Balochistan has compelled me to take this step”.
“Our province has consistently been marginalised and ignored by this House. Each day, we are pushed further to the wall, leaving us with no choice but to reconsider our roles.
“The lack of genuine representation in this Assembly for the people of Balochistan has left voices like mine unable to bring meaningful change.
“It has become increasingly clear that our attempts to speak or protest are met with hostility, our people are either silenced, labelled as traitors, or worse, killed,” Mengal wrote in his letter.
“Under such circumstances, I find it impossible to continue in this capacity, as my presence here no longer serves any purpose for the people I represent,” Mengal wrote.
Requesting the NA speaker to accept his resignation, the BNP-M chief expressed the hope for Balochistan to “be protected and prosper”.
More to follow
