The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a Baloch nationalist armed group, has claimed responsibility for the killing of Atta ur Rehman Mengal and several of his associates in the Arenji area of Tehsil Wadh, Khuzdar district. In a statement released on June 23, the BLA stated that the operation was carried out by its Intelligence Wing, “ZIRAB,” and a combat unit identified as the “Fateh Squad.”
The group alleged that Mengal was a key figure in what it describes as state-backed “death squads” operating in Balochistan. According to the BLA, the operation followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance of Mengal’s activities. The group stated that its fighters had returned safely after completing the mission.
Atta ur Rehman Mengal has been a controversial figure in the region. The BLA and other Baloch nationalist groups have long accused him and his family of facilitating operations against Baloch activists and of collaborating with Pakistan’s security agencies. The BLA claims he was involved in the enforced disappearances, torture, and killings of Baloch political workers and students, often with impunity due to his tribal status and alleged backing from state institutions.
Mengal was also identified by the BLA as a member of a broader network allegedly established by his brother, Shafiq ur Rehman Mengal, and their father, Naseer Mengal. This network is accused of targeting Baloch nationalists and minority groups such as the Hazara community, through a combination of armed groups and sectarian tactics in cooperation with elements of the state. The discovery of mass graves in Tootak, Balochistan, in 2014 is often cited by human rights organizations and Baloch groups as evidence of such operations, though investigations into those claims have seen limited progress.
The Pakistani government has not yet issued a statement on the incident. In the past, authorities have denied the existence of state-backed death squads and have labeled the BLA and similar groups as terrorist organizations involved in violent insurgency and sabotage activities.