Bid by govt, opposition to get Mengal to change his mind on resignation

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan National Party (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal Wednesday dug his heels in on revisiting his decision to quit the National Assembly over the Balochistan situation when a government delegation approached him.

“I have no intention to withdraw my resignation,” the veteran lawmaker told reporters after meeting the government delegation headed by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah. The delegation — which also comprised Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Usman Badiani, Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani and Khalid Magsi — assured Mengal of addressing his grievances and asked him to withdraw his resignation. Mengal told reporters that the government team tried to convince him but instead “I convinced them”. During the meeting, Mengal said, he raised the issues concerning Balochistan’s exploitation, missing persons and unfair distribution of resources.

A day earlier, Mengal tendered his resignation as an MNA over the “worsening situation” in Balochistan, declaring no-confidence in the state, president and prime minister.

Talking to the media after meeting the BNP-M chief, Rana Sanaullah said Mengal was asked to change his mind and remain a part of parliament. “He [Mengal] has always spoken about the rights of his province.” The PMLN stalwart further said the concerns raised by the seasoned politician would be conveyed to the relevant authorities, while the requests he made would be placed before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “The veteran lawmaker should continue his struggle within the ambit of Constitution and law,” Sana said, adding that the government committee “filed a review petition with the politician,” which would be considered.

For his part, Khalid Magsi, a member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), said his fellow members had agreed on a “plan” given by Rana Sanaullah and hoped that “it will bring good results in the coming days”.

On the other hand, a delegation of the opposition alliance, headed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Asad Qaiser, also met Sardar Akhtar Mengal and asked the same. Speaking to journalists, Qaiser said Mengal assured them of “thinking and consulting in this regard”, adding that the latter would attend the opposition alliance’s meeting and apprise them of his decision. Furthermore, Qaiser said they were making attempts to summon an ‘all parties’ conference’ on Balochistan.

Meanwhile, an opposition delegation, led by the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Wednesday called on Sardar Akhtar Mengal and requested him to withdraw his resignation. The other members of the delegation included former Speaker Asad Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai, Aamir Dogar and Raoof Hasan. The delegation requested Mengal to fight within parliament but he refused.

The opposition leaders alleged that the government had made the National Assembly a rubber-stamp and claimed the issues of the province were repeatedly discussed but the government did not show any seriousness.

Speaking on the occasion, Mengal lamented that no one wanted to understand the real problems of Balochistan. He regretted that even the government paid no attention to the issue. He emphasised that the situation in Balochistan was serious and now it was difficult for him to return to the assembly. “Now the time for discussion has passed, as no one wants to understand the real problems of Balochistan,” he regretted.

Separately, PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said they had requested Mengal to withdraw his resignation but he refused. “I don’t think it is a good thing; ask him to reconsider his decision,” Gohar said. “Do not miss the assembly forum, as resigning has been a movement and it happens all over the world, but I don’t think it is right to bow out like this. It is not right to leave parliament in protest like this,” he maintained.

In a related development, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar informed the National Assembly on Wednesday that a committee had been formed to meet with Sardar Akhtar Mengal.

Speaking on the floor of the House, he said the committee, comprising Rana Sana Ullah Khan, Mohammad Usman Badini and Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani, had been tasked with persuading Mengal to resolve the issue through negotiations.

Meanwhile Sardar Akhtar Mengal met Ameer of JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman here on Wednesday night. The two leaders held a detailed meeting during which they discussed the ongoing political situation in the country, the spokesman of JUIF said.

The sources said that Akhtar Mengal apprised Maulana Fazlur of the situation in Balochistan and reasons for resignation as an MNA. He also thanked the JUIF ameer for raising the grievances of Baloch people on the floor of the National Assembly.