QUETTA: Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Wednesday took oath as member of the Balochistan Assembly.
Mengal became the member of Balochistan Assembly after an interval of 14 years from parliamentary politics. He won a National Assembly and Balochistan Assembly seats in the May 11 general elections.
The nationalist leader, accompanied by another member of Balochistan Assembly belonging to the BNP-M Mir Hamal Kalmati, was greeted with desk-thumping by the treasury and opposition members of the provincial assembly upon his arrival.
On the occasion, the BNP-M chief said that he has taken this ‘bitter sip’ in a bid to come up to the expectations of the people who voted for him.
Mengal further said that this heavenly Balochistan has been turned into a depressing graveyard, while the sons of Balochistan have been forced to take refuge in other countries, adding that we have to carry their burden also even today.
Sardar Akhtar Mengal said the central committee of BNP-M had decided to raise voice for Baloch rights and protection of resources within the parliament as well.
While welcoming Mengal’s arrival in the assembly, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said that both leaders shared the same destination and would make efforts to lift the province out of difficult times.
Leader of the opposition in the Balochistan Assembly, Zmarak Khan Achakzai, belonging to the Awami National party (ANP) assuring Akhtar Mengal of his complete cooperation said that both the parties (ANP and BNP-M) would work together to stabilise democracy as they had in the past.
Sardar Akhtar Mengal has served as chief minister of Balochistan from 1997 to 1998 during previous government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
