The Akhtar Mengal resignation decision was confirmed after National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq approved the BNP-M chief’s resignation following a months-long delay.
Sources said the resignation was accepted last night and will take effect from the date it was originally submitted. During the intervening period, Mengal continued to receive the perks of a Member of the National Assembly (MNA), including a flat at the Parliament Lodges.
Mengal was elected from NA-256 Khuzdar in the February 2024 general elections. He tendered his resignation on September 3, 2024, citing the worsening security and political situation in Balochistan and expressing no confidence in the state system.
Akhtar Mengal’s Resignation
When he announced his resignation during a National Assembly session, Mengal said he regretted being unable to deliver for the people of Balochistan. He also criticised what he described as the denial of the province’s right to rule and voiced a lack of trust in the overall system.
His resignation followed a series of violent incidents in August 2024. More than 50 people were killed, including 14 security personnel, in attacks attributed to militants affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The attacks targeted civilians, police, and security forces.
سردار اختر مینگل کا قومی اسمبلی کی رکنیت سے استعفیٰ منظور کر لیا گیا، ذرائع pic.twitter.com/f4yi1uaEzJ
— Geo News Urdu (@geonews_urdu) February 11, 2026In response, a government delegation led by Prime Minister’s aide Rana Sanaullah met Mengal to address his concerns. However, the BNP-M chief maintained his stance and did not withdraw his resignation.
Political Protests and Activism
Mengal remained politically active after submitting his resignation. In July last year, he was offloaded from a Dubai-bound flight at Quetta airport. He later said immigration officials informed him that his name had been placed on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).
In 2025, he staged a 20-day sit-in at Lak Pass in Mastung. The protest focused on the arrests of Baloch rights activists and police actions in the province.
Read: BNP Chief Akhtar Mengal Offloaded from Dubai Flight
His party also launched a long march from Wadh to Quetta on March 28. The protest lasted nearly three weeks and called for the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and activists, including Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch.
The acceptance of his resignation formally ends his tenure as an MNA from NA-256. However, the political debate surrounding Balochistan’s governance and security challenges continues.
Observers say the development may influence parliamentary dynamics, particularly in discussions related to provincial rights and federal policy.
