Akhtar Mengal rejects calls to withdraw resignation, departs for Dubai

Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP) chief Akhtar Mengal resigned from his National Assembly seat, citing a lack of confidence in both the prime minister and the president.

Expressing deep dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of Balochistan’s issues, he departed for Dubai following his resignation on Thursday.

In a tweet before his departure, Mengal revealed that political parties had refused to accept his resignation, a move that left him perplexed. "All political parties have rejected my resignation, which surprises me because I have already resigned and have no intention of remaining part of this Parliament," Mengal wrote.

He went on to state that the political parties believe they can convince him to change his mind and seek his forgiveness for their mistakes.

However, Mengal stressed that the apology should be directed toward the people of Balochistan, not him. “They think they can change my mind and apologise for their errors, but they don't need to seek forgiveness from me—apologise to the people of Balochistan. Acknowledge that you have hurt them by taking away their loved ones,” he asserted.

Mengal further mentioned the tragic cases of Sami Baloch and Dr Mahrang, saying "Apologise to Sami Baloch and Dr Mahrang when all they wanted was to talk. I am not just Akhtar Mengal; I am part of these people. When you apologise to them, you will be apologising to me as well."

He clarified that his resignation was not driven by personal grievances but by a sense of duty. "I have no personal enmity with anyone, but my conscience compelled me to make this decision," he added.

The BNP leader lamented the lack of willingness among the political leadership to address Balochistan’s long-standing issues. "I tried to explain everything, but they are unwilling to solve Balochistan's problems," he said.

He concluded his statement by explaining that he had returned to Pakistan to unburden himself after carrying this weight for months. “Now I am free. I hope others will soon realise the gravity of the situation before it's too late. I am now on a flight. Goodbye, Parliament—perhaps we will meet again when the rule of law is established,” Mengal wrote, signalling his departure.