Testing political waters: Akhtar Mengal to stage comeback on 25th

BNP chief’s return signals participation of Baloch nationalists in polls.

QUETTA:

Sardar Akhtar Mengal, a former chief minister and president of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), will return to Pakistan on March 25.

It was confirmed by the acting president of BNP Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini, while talking to newsmen on Thursday.

He said the party chief will reach Karachi on March 25 from Dubai and will preside over a meeting of the central committee of the BNP to review the prevailing political situation in the context of participating in the general elections.

The central committee will take a final decision whether or not to participate in the general elections and review the climate for holding free, fair and transparent elections.

Mengal has been living in Dubai and came to Islamabad last year to appear before the Supreme Court to give his opinion on the prevailing conditions in Balochistan.

Recently, he wrote an open letter to the chief justice requesting him to play a role in conflict resolution between the Pakistani establishment and the Baloch nationalists seeking their inalienable national rights.

In a related development, the acting president of the BNP invited applications from candidates interested in contesting elections for the National Assembly.

Similarly, those interested in contesting the Balochistan Assembly seats have been advised to submit their applications to Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini and Agha Hassan Baloch, the BNP information secretary.

Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan had allotted the symbol “hatchet” to the party.

Political observers believe that the BNP central committee will decide in favour of participating in the general elections so as to block formation of a pro-centre government in the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2013.