Karachi: Renowned Baloch nationalist leader, Sardar Attaullah Mengal, died on Thursday after a protracted illness at a private hospital in Karachi at the age of 92.
Mengal served as the first elected Chief Minister of Balochistan province from May 1, 1972 to February 13, 1973. He laid the foundation of several revolutionary changes in Balochistan during his short stint as the CM, including establishing universities and examinations boards in the province.
His regime came to an end after the then prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto imposed Governor’s rule in Balochistan. He was later imprisoned for a prolonged period of time because of his resistance against the army operation in Balochistan. He spent the later years of his life in exile in London and came back to Pakistan in 1990. Later, he actively took part in Balochistan’s politics.
Mengal founded the Balochistan National Party in 1996. His son, Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal also served as the CM of Balochistan for 19 months from February 1997 to July 1998.
He was one of the founding leaders of Pakistan Oppressed Nations’ Movement comprising of nationalist political parties of the smaller provinces in the country.
Later on, his active participation in the politics of the country got diminished due to his advance age and health issues.
His body is being taken to his native town Wadh in Khuzdar District of Balochistan for burial on Friday evening.
His death means that an entire chapter in the Balochistan’s politics has come to an end.
Condolence messages have poured in from all across the country as the senior government leaders and politicians have praised the political services of late Mengal especially for Balochistan.
