QUETTA: Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the Presi­dent of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal), has emphasised that, as a matter of principle, elections should have been conducted within 90 days following the dissolution of assemblies.

In the event of a delay in holding elections, he believes that Article 6 should be invoked against those responsible for this delay.

During a gathering where prominent lawyers formally joined BNP-Mengal, Sardar Akhtar Mengal clarified that he had not, in fact, requested Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar to step down from his position, despite reports suggesting otherwise.

“I have not asked the governor to quit from his office on the issue of missing persons,” Sardar Akhtar Mengal said, adding that when the Prime Minister is helpless then what the governor can do in this regard.

Prominent lawyers who have joined BNP-Mengal include Ibrahim Lehri, Hamidullah Muhammad Hasni, Muhammad Zafar Luni, and Akram Dost Pirkani. They have expressed their confidence in the leadership of Sardar Akhtar Mengal.

During the press conference, former MPA Mir Hammal Kalmati, Ghulam Nabi Marri, Musa Baloch, and other party leaders were also in attendance.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal, in his welcoming remarks to the lawyers joining the party, emphasised the significance of legal expertise within the party, particularly noting that these lawyers have joined at a time when the party is not in power.

“They have joined our party without any greed,” he said.

In addressing the matter of missing persons, he underscored its significance as a pressing concern that has evolved into a nationwide issue in Pakistan.

“People across the country are fervently demanding the safe return of their missing loved ones, who have been unaccounted for over an extended period,” he said.

Replying to a question, Mr Mengal said that the negotiations were underway with JUI-F, JWP, National Party and other parties for election alliance for contesting upcoming elections.

“Time will prove, these talks will be successful or not,” he said.

He said that the coming time will prove that the next election will be free, fair and transparent or otherwise. He said that efforts were underway to keep BNP-Mengal away from elections but the party will not run away from the elections.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2023