Balochistan National Party
The Balochistan National Party (Urdu: بلوچستان نيشنل پارٹی) is a Balochi nationalist political party in Balochistan, Pakistan. BNP believes in national right of autonomy for Balochistan through a peaceful and democratic struggle.[1] It is split into two factions,
- Balochistan National Party (Mengal) - the anti-establishment wing led by former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal, who is incarcerated by the government in the Karachi Central Prison since December 2006.[2] The secretary general of the party is Habib Jalib Baloch.
- Balochistan National Party (Awami) - the pro-establishment wing led by Senator Israr Ullah Zehri.[3]
Another faction previously known as BNP or BNM (Hayee group) merged with Balochistan National Democratic Party (BNDP) to form National Party in mid-2003.
As 2008 general elections were boycotted by all four major nationalist parties in Balochistan, i.e., JWP, PkMAP, NP and BNP-Mengal; BNP-Awami actively took part in it. In fact, BNP-Awami was part of the governing coalition in the last Balochistan government with PML-Q and JUI-F from 2002 till 2007. In the 2008 elections, BNP-Awami won 1 national seat and 7 provincial seats. They nominated Syed Ehsan Shah to be the parliamentary leader.
[4] Early years
Sardar Attahullah mengal is Chief of BNP and Party has popular support in Balochistan province. Sardar Attahullah was first elected Chief Minister of Balochistan province in 1972, but soon after pro-people reforms and ideas , Punjabi dominated Pakistan military overthrow Mengal Government and sent troops to eliminate political leaders and get control of Balochistan resources.
Sardar Mengal along with Nawab Marri and political leaders of Balochistan sent to Jail. After spending four years in Jail Mr Mengal went to exile and returned in 1996 and again revived the Party which sweep the 1997 election in Balochistan province despite Pakistan military and intelligence agencies oppossition, his son Akhter Mengal swworn as Chief minister of Balochistan province.
In 2002 election BNP members have been bared to take part in election freely, which allowed pro-military religious alliance MMA to win all moderate and nationalist constituencies in Balochistan.
BNP believes on secular, and nationalist ideas and party struggle is focused on politico-economic autonomy for Balochistan. Party also believes on Non-Nuclearizationa and De-Militarization of Balochistan region which is presently testing and nuclear developing site of Pakistan military.
Presently BNP has two members in National parliament and two in provincial.
- ^ Amanullah Kasi. "Operation not to weaken struggle, says BNP chief" Dawn Newspaper, April 3, 2006
- ^ Family fears Akhtar Mengal may be killed in prison: BNP-M chief suffering from cardiac problem Dawn Newspaper, March 03, 2008
- ^ "Benefits of development start reaching common man: PM" Pakistan Observer, October 3, 2007
- ^ Staff Report. "BNP-A names parliamentary leader in Balochistan Assembly" Daily Times, February 28, 2008
