On the occasion of the third death anniversary of his father, Sardar Attaullah Mengal, Akhtar Mengal, Member of the National Assembly and leader of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), announced his resignation from Parliament, dedicating the act as a tribute to his late father.
“The current situation in Balochistan has forced me to take this step,” Mengal said in a post on X. “Our province 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.”
Mengal’s resignation is not just a personal decision but a powerful indictment of the systemic oppression faced by Pak-occupied-Balochistan at the hands of the Pakistan Army. For years, POB has been treated as a colony, its resources plundered, and its people silenced or branded as traitors if they dare to raise their voices. “Our province 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,” Mengal said, emphasizing that the so-called representation of occupied-Balochistan in the assembly is nothing more than a façade.
In a scathing critique, Mengal said that the Pakistan Army of being the real power behind the curtain, controlling Balochistan’s fate from the shadows while the civilian government remains impotent. He revealed the truth behind the question, “What is the problem with Balochistan?” explaining that the “key” to solving the issue lies with the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army, not with any elected government. “This ‘key’ is not the Punjabi word ‘ki’ but the English word ‘key,’ meaning a lock and key, which is kept in the GHQ, and no one is allowed to open it,” Mengal explained, pointing out the military’s stranglehold on occupied-Balochistan’s political and economic life.
Mengal’s decision to step down came after years of frustration with the ineffectiveness of parliamentary politics in addressing the real issues plaguing POB. He said that his presence in Parliament had not brought any meaningful change for his people, as their voices are systematically ignored. “It has become clear that our protests or expressions of opinion are always met with opposition. Our people are either silenced, branded as traitors, or worse, killed,” he remarked, underscoring the life-threatening risks faced by those who dare to speak out against the military’s occupation.
Baloch Leader Quits Parliament
Mengal also criticized the occupied-state’s refusal to engage with the true representatives of Balochistan—the freedom fighters who have taken to the mountains in defiance of the military occupation. He argued that the occupied-government’s attempts to stifle dissent through violence have only deepened the crisis. “If the occupied-state wants to talk, it should engage with those who have taken to the rugged mountains, as it is no longer in our control,” he said.
In his resignation, Mengal made it clear that Balochistan’s struggle is far from over, and the real fight is against the military’s dominance. He revealed that the ongoing conflict benefits those in power and certain Paki institutions that profit from the chaos, whether through so-called development projects, law and order measures, or border smuggling. Mengal warned that these profiteers have no interest in resolving the conflict, as their power and wealth depend on the continued suffering of the Baloch people.
Outside the assembly, Mengal further highlighted the atrocities committed by the military, recounting the recent discovery of four tortured bodies of young men from his constituency. Their eyes had been gouged out, a chilling reminder of the brutal tactics used to suppress dissent in POB. “Were they fighting without eyes?” Mengal asked, questioning the official narrative that these youths were killed in an encounter.
In a final, damning statement, Mengal said, “There is no shame or decency left in this country.” His resignation is a call to action for all those who oppose the Pakistan Army’s brutal occupation of Balochistan and a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and autonomy in the region.