NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq accepts Akhtar Mengal’s resignation after over a year

2026-02-11 - 06:56

ISLAMABAD – National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has officially accepted the resignation of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, chief of the Balochistan National Party-M, after more than one year after it was initially tendered. The Speaker’s office has informed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) about the acceptance, paving the way for the commencement of preparations for the upcoming by-elections. In September 2024, Mengal had tendered his resignation as a Member of the National Assembly over what he claimed “worsening situation” of the province. Mengal had announced his resignation during the NA session, saying he made this decision after witnessing the situation in Balochistan, adding that he declared no confidence in the state, the president and the prime minister. Regretting that he could not do anything for the people of the province, the politician said they had not been given the right to rule for a year and that he had a lack of trust in the whole system. “People are not interested in the issues of Balochistan and every time this issue is raised, we face a blackout,” he said. “This assembly does not listen to us, what’s the point of sitting here?” Mengal had said that the decision is made by his conscience. He questioned where they would go when the roads to the Parliament House were all blocked. Mengal, who was elected from the NA-256 constituency, said the prevailing situation in Balochistan has compelled him to take this step.