QUETTA – Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Akhtar Mengal was stopped from boarding a Dubai-bound flight at Quetta Airport on Sunday, triggering widespread political condemnation. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirmed his name was listed in the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL), preventing his international travel.
Mengal, sharing the news on platform X, stated that immigration staff informed him mid-boarding about his travel restriction. He also posted a screenshot showing his name listed in PNIL with approval from the “competent authority,” accompanied by explicit directions not to allow him to fly abroad.
Reacting swiftly, former federal minister Agha Hasan Baloch and Ghulam Nabi Mari criticized the move, calling it illegal and unconstitutional. They pointed out that Mengal still holds his National Assembly seat, as his resignation has not yet been officially accepted.
Mengal had submitted his resignation in September 2024, citing the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan. However, parliamentary authorities have yet to process or approve his exit from the assembly, raising further legal questions about the travel ban.
Earlier in 2025, the veteran leader led multiple protests demanding the release of detained Baloch activists. He organized a 20-day sit-in at Mastung’s Lak Pass and spearheaded a long march from Wadh to Quetta in March, voicing support for human rights defenders.
The incident has once again intensified debate over freedom of movement and political suppression. Supporters of Mengal are demanding a clear explanation from authorities and the immediate removal of his name from the PNIL list.