The Balochistan National Party (BNP) parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Abdul Rauf Mengal, resigned on Wednesday to protest the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in a military operation.
After a fiery speech, in which he condemned the killing of Akbar Bugti, Mengal tendered his resignation on the floor of the house and urged the combined opposition 'it was high time to quit assemblies.'
He is the only BNP representative in the National Assembly, whereas his party colleague Sanaullah Baloch is member of the Senate and, at present, he is in London.
BNP members of the provincial assembly-Akhtar Hussain Lango and Akbar Mengal have already resigned. Abdul Rauf Mengal is the second MNA after Allama Tahirul Qadri, who has resigned from the Parliament in Musharraf-led government.
Soon after Rauf Mengal appeared in the house, he was escorted by Opposition and treasury members who seemed to be engaged in convincing him not to quit.
After hectic efforts, Mengal succeeded in getting the floor and condemned the killing of Baloch tribe chieftain Akbar Bugti.
He appealed to the Amnesty International to intervene and save the lives of innocent Baloch people who are being 'bombed' by security forces.
Mengal said the people of Balochistan have decided to observe country's Defence Day as a 'black day' to condemn the military operation and express solidarity with the 'martyrs' of Balochistan.
He said they would not bow before the military regime and would continue struggle for their rights. The parliament has become a rubber stamp and decisions such as launching military operation in Balochistan and North Waziristan were taken without approval of the supreme institution, he alleged.
The BNP leader said the Musharraf-led government was registering fake cases against Baloch leaders and some of key Baloch politicians have gone through worst type of political victimisation.
Speaking about the mega development projects in Balochistan, Rauf Mengal said the people of Balochistan do not accept any mega project where locals are not being offered jobs.
Mengal thanked opposition and treasury members for extending maximum support to him during his tenure as member of the lower house and requested the chair to issue production order of PML-N President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi.
He then tendered his resignation on the floor of the house and asked opposition parties not to be part of the present incumbent setup.
Soon after he announced his resignation, Rauf Mengal was hugged not only by his colleagues sitting on the Opposition benches but also by some of treasury members, most of them from the PML dissident group.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member Haider Abbas Rizvi went to Mengal as well.