
There is a big weakness of the Baloch: they have always fought alone [as a single tribe] or with one another rather than fighting against a common enemy.
Shah Meer Baloch
Balochistan’s first chief minister, Sardar Attaullah Mengal, is said to be the fourth pillar of Baloch nationalism, and the only one alive today. The other pillars were Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri and Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.
Born in 1929, Mengal spent his childhood in Lasbela and later moved to Karachi. He was declared the chief (sardar) of Mengal tribe in 1954.
Mengal was introduced to politics by Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, a founding member of the National Awami Party (NAP) – who also briefly served as the governor of Balochistan in 1972-73. In 1962, Mengal was elected to the West Pakistan provincial assembly; Bezinjo ran his election campaign.
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