| File:Sardar Akhtar Mengal (cropped).jpg | |
| Office | 9th Chief Minister of Balochistan |
|---|---|
| Office | Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan
|
| Office | Member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan
|
| Term start | 22 February 1997 |
| Term end | 15 June 1998 |
| Predecessor | Zulfikar Ali Magsi |
| Successor | Jan Mohammad Jamali
|
| Constituency | NA-256 Khuzdar |
| Born | 1962-10-6 (age 64) |
| Born | Wadh, Khuzdar, Balochistan
|
| Political party | BNP(M) (1996-present)
|
| Children | 3 Including Gurgain Mengal
|
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Akhtar Mengal, born on 06 October 1962, is a prominent Pakistani politician hailing from Balochistan province who presently serves as the chairman of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal). His current governmental responsibilities include his position as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, a role he has held since February 2024.
Throughout his political career, Mengal has occupied several significant positions of public service. He previously served as the Chief Minister of Balochistan during 1997-1998, and has also represented his constituency as a member of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly. Additionally, Mengal served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 until August 2023.
Early life and Education
Akhtar Mengal entered the world on 06 October 1962 in the town of Wadh,[1] then part of West Pakistan (currently situated within Balochistan, Pakistan). He is the offspring of the distinguished Ataullah Mengal, who previously served as Chief Minister of Balochistan. Mengal's lineage traces to the prominent Mengal tribe.
His family includes three children: two sons named Gurgain Mengal and Brahem Mengal, and one daughter named Banari Mengal.[2] Mengal's educational foundation was established at the prestigious Aitchison College, where he received his formal schooling.[3]
Political Career
Akhtar Mengal returned to Pakistan on 25 March 2013, concluding a four-year period of self-imposed exile in Dubai to participate in the 2013 general elections. His Balochistan National Party (Mengal) secured representation in the 51-member provincial assembly with only two seats—one held by Mengal himself and another by Hamal Kalmati, who represents Gwada.
The electoral performance also saw two BNP candidates, Esa Noori and Raouf Mengal, successfully winning National Assembly seats from the Makran coastal region and Khuzdar, respectively. Akhtar Mengal formally assumed his position as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan by taking the oath of office on 13 August 2018.
Arrest and Release
In September 2006, Akhtar Mengal faced detention alongside approximately 700 fellow political activists during a governmental enforcement operation in Balochistan. His imprisonment stemmed from his preparations to organize a prolonged protest march against President Pervez Musharraf's military governance. After approximately two years of custody, Mengal secured his release on 09 May 2008, with all legal proceedings against him dismissed by the Sindh government. Subsequently, the Balochistan provincial administration withdrew all charges, including sedition allegations, against Mengal.
On 25 March 2013, Mengal journeyed back to Pakistan from Dubai to participate in the general elections scheduled for 11 May 2013.
Relationship with the Baloch insurgency
Akhtar Mengal has historically faced criticism from both Baloch insurgents and the security establishment, capturing this complex position in a 2013 interview where he expressed, "The Baloch militants consider me a traitor while the security establishment also treats me as an enemy." His family's influential status encompasses members positioned on various sides of the political spectrum, creating a challenging dynamic.
Currently affiliated with the Pakistan Democratic Movement—a 13-party coalition presently governing at the federal level—his association with the Balochistan Liberation Army through his brother and nephews has presented significant obstacles to his integration into mainstream national politics. His brother, Javed Mengal, and nephews Nooruddin Mengal and Bhawal Mengal have allegedly participated in armed militancy within Balochistan's volatile provincial landscape. Despite these familial connections, Akhtar Mengal has consistently condemned insurgent activities and advocated for political resolutions to the province's multifaceted challenges.
On 02 September 2025, Mengal survived a suicide bombing attack during a BNP rally in Quetta, an incident that resulted in 15 fatalities and was claimed by Islamic State.
References
- ↑ Akhtar Mengal Age, Daughter, biography, Family 2018. ARYNEWS(8 July 2018). Retrieved 2019-09-14.
- ↑ Banari Mengal - The Express Tribune Blog. Retrieved 2019-09-14.
- ↑ The rise and rise of Imran Khan. The Friday Times(29 September 2017).