Sardar Akhtar Mengal. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) leader Akhtar Mengal.
According to an official statement, Mengal had tendered his resignation from the National Assembly in September 2024. The President’s office officially informed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about the decision.
The further procedure regarding the vacant seat will be conducted in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, the work of the National Assembly was suspended shortly after the start of the session due to a lack of quorum.
Opposition lawmaker Junaid Akbar highlighted the quorum, prompting the speaker to order a head count to confirm the required number of lawmakers.
After the count, it turned out that the government had failed to ensure the minimum presence necessary to continue the procedure. The speaker then suspends the session until a quorum is reached.
Read: Balochistan has reached point of no return (Mengal)
Later, the work of the National Assembly resumed once the required quorum was reached, allowing the House to continue its legislative work.
Previously, Mengal had criticized the government’s actions, saying that despite his representations to the Supreme Court, his speeches in Parliament and his proposals at seminars, he and his party were being labeled “traitors”, while those who tried to divide the country were not punished.
Addressing a conference, Mengal said the February 8 elections had created artificial leadership in Balochistan.
He cited cases like Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, sentenced to 17 years in prison for a tweet, in contrast to what he described as the impunity of those who destroy the country.
He warned that Balochistan had reached a point of no return and held the state responsible for the situation.
