Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Akhtar Mengal has raised concerns over the formation of the opposition alliance, stating that his party has been used in past political coalitions without any real benefit for Balochistan.

Speaking on the Aaj News’ programme “News Insight with Aamir Zia”, Mengal said that he would only consider joining the alliance if it genuinely prioritised Balochistan’s issues.

He emphasised that his primary concern has always been the rights and welfare of the people of Balochistan and that he would not participate in a political alliance formed solely for personal or party gains.

Political exclusion and censorship

Reflecting on his time in Parliament, Mengal expressed frustration, stating, “If the 2018 assembly failed to understand me, how can this Form-47 government comprehend my stance?”

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He said that during his tenure in the National Assembly, his speeches were disliked by powerful institutions, and he was warned that he would not be allowed to contest future elections.

Mengal recounted raising these concerns in a meeting attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, members of the cabinet, the Army Chief, and the DG ISI.

“I told them openly: ‘If you don’t want us to do politics, just say it. We’ll step aside quietly. But given the state of politics today, it would be better to set up a street food stall than engage in this system,’” he said.

He also criticised the growing censorship in Parliament, stating that during Imran Khan’s tenure, his speeches were blacked out, but he managed to share recordings through other means.

“Now, under the new Speaker, even those recordings have been blocked. One must now formally apply to access their own parliamentary speeches,” he remarked.

BNP’s experience with political alliances

Mengal explained that BNP had joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government under a formal agreement, but when PTI failed to honor its commitments, BNP was left with no choice but to exit the coalition.

He criticised both the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), stating, “We thought they had learned lessons from past mistakes, but their actions have proved otherwise. This PPP is the same as Bhutto’s era, and PML-N remains the party that was nurtured under General Ziaul Haq.”

Mengal made it clear that he would only support an opposition alliance if it provided concrete and clear assurances that Balochistan’s issues would be its top priority.

Otherwise, he said, “I can only offer my prayers for them.”

He dismissed verbal assurances, adding, “If our politicians had only one face, I might have believed them. But they speak with multiple tongues.”

Calls for accountability

Mengal identified the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti as a turning point for Balochistan and demanded official acknowledgement of past injustices.

“Has anyone ever officially apologised for his assassination?” he asked.

He condemned the state’s use of force instead of dialogue to resolve Balochistan’s issues, saying, “When you use a hammer to fix problems, it only creates cracks.”

Mengal also emphasized the need to build trust between the centre and Balochistan. “Stop treating Balochistan as a colony. If you want trust, you must take real steps — beginning with the return of missing persons. If they are no longer alive, at least inform their families,” he demanded.

He rejected claims that missing persons had voluntarily joined militant groups or fled to Afghanistan, questioning, “If that were true, why are thousands of women leaving their homes and protesting on the streets? In our culture, women don’t even step out to vote, let alone protest.”

A cycle of frustration and resistance

Discussing the radicalisation of Baloch youth, Mengal acknowledged that some students had pursued higher education, but the political and security environment had pushed them toward frustration and reactionary behaviour.

“I’m not justifying their actions, but this is human nature. When faced with constant oppression, people react.” Concluding his remarks, Mengal said that the BNP had tried to act as a bridge between the provinces and the federal government, but that bridge had been destroyed.

“I don’t see a way forward anymore. Explaining things to the state is now a waste of time. If they haven’t understood in 74 years, how can a so-called ignorant man like me make them understand now?”