Terrorism case filed against BNP chief Akhtar Mengal

Akhtar Mengal and five others accused of attempting an armed intrusion into Senate Hall, leading to serious charges.

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The Islamabad police have registered a terrorism case against Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the head of the Balochistan National Party (BNP).

The case, filed by Senate Joint Secretary Jamil Ahmed at the Secretariat Police Station, names Akhtar Mengal and five other individuals as accused. The terrorism charge is among other sections included in the case.

According to the case details, Akhtar Mengal, along with five others, tried to forcefully enter Senate Hall while armed. Meer Jahanzaib Mengal and Akhtar Nawaz allegedly pushed security staff as they attempted to enter the hall with weapons.

Earlier during National Assembly session that passed the 26th Constitutional Amendment, Akhtar Mengal was escorted out of the Senate gallery.

Speaking to the media, Mengal shared that a female security officer removed him from the gallery. He explained that he had come face to face with his party’s dissident members, and upon exposing the situation, government ministers started to panic.

BNP senator Qasim Ronjo resigns

Yesterday Senator Qasim Ronjo, a dissenting member of the BNP, officially resigned from his Senate position.

On Sunday, BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal instructed both Ronjo and Senator Naseema Ehsan to resign immediately after their support for the amendment, cautioning them that failure to do so by tomorrow would result in expulsion from the party.

The two BNP-M senators backed the government's amendment, which successfully passed with a two-thirds majority, securing 65 votes.

Earlier at Parliament House, Mengal expressed concern over his party's disconnect with its senators, stating, "We are here to find our senators. We've checked their lodges, but they are not there."

These remarks were made as Pakistan's federal cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved the draft for the 26th Constitutional Amendment.