Mengal open to dialogue with PTI

LAHORE: The President of Balochistan National Party (BNP), Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal, has said that dialogue with the PTI leadership on political alignment is possible.

Currently, the PTI, whose candidates have emerged as the largest independent group in the National Assembly with nearly 100 seats, is engaged in negotiations with various political parties.

This effort aims to attain the status of a registered political party, enabling it to secure its quota of reserved seats, which was denied after losing the symbol of bat before the 2024 general elections.

The PTI has faced criticism for failing to conduct intra-party polls. Acquiring registered political party status would protect its newly-elected independent members from horse-trading and defection threats. Independents would be given three days after the Election Commission of Pakistan issues the notification to join the party of their choice.

The PTI leadership, whose relationship with the establishment has been strained since 2022, seeks an immediate political platform to safeguard its mandate.

To achieve this, negotiations are underway with various political parties, including Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Pakistan Muslim League Zia.

Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal expressed openness to dialogue with the PTI on this issue. “Both of us are targeted parties; dialogue with PTI can be held over the current issue faced by it,” said Sardar Akhtar Mengal while speaking to The News. Mengal’s BNP has secured two National Assembly seats, with Mengal himself serving as an MNA. Additionally, the party holds a provincial assembly seat. It is noteworthy that the BNP maintains a firm stance on the issue of missing persons in Balochistan.