Strategy of 'masterly inactivity'.

During off the record, one on one meetings, Sardar Akhter Mengal has consistently been cribbing and complaining for the past nine months. Not many in Islamabad perhaps know that he and Imran Khan developed familiarity with each other during their time at the elitist Atchison College of Lahore. That connection motivated Akhter Mengal to vote for Imran Khan in August 2018.

In spite of emerging as the single largest party after the general election held in the month of July that year, the PTI desperately required clear cut majority in the house of 342 to get its leader elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. After managing the support of various parties and weighty 'independents,' the party remained short of at least two votes. Mengal and his Balochistan National Party (BNP) had four and they opted to go for him. After a 3-party contest, Imran Khan finally managed to prove the support of 176.

The BNP's support for Imran Khan had surprised, rather shocked, many commentators. Akhter is the political heir of Attaullah Khan Mengal, considered an iconic leader of a powerful movement assiduously struggling for the 'rights of Balochistan' since 1948.

Often, like the rest of many towering leaders of this movement, Attaullah Khan was also sent to jail and bravely faced the charges of 'sedition and armed rebellion.' Not for once, however, he ever identified himself with the so-called secessionist trends. He always pressed for the real execution of promises, committed through the written constitution of Pakistan, regarding the question of 'provincial autonomy.'With the same intent, he also became the first elected Chief Minister of his province in 1972. His government was not allowed to complete its term. It was rather dismissed on trumped up charges.

Akhter Mengal didn't feel discouraged by the accumulated frustrations of his father. With good intent, he rather agreed to become the Chief Minister of Balochistan during the second government of Nawaz Sharif after the election of 1997. He was also not allowed to complete his term. Like his father, he also felt bitter and frustrated, but sincerely hoped that 'Naya Pakistan' of Imran Khan would treat him differently. His hopes have proven false or unworkable Wednesday.

Participating in general discussion on budgetary proposals, he delivered a passionate speech. For more than 40 minutes, Mengal read a data based litany of grievances he and his party continued to endure in spite of being a firm ally of the...

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