after the division of pakistan in 1971, nap formed coalition governments in the khyber-pakhtunkhwa and balochistan on the basis of winning majority of seats in the two provinces. arbab sikandar khan was appointed governor of the khyber pakhtunkhwa and ghaus bux bizenjo governor of balochistan. sardar akhtar mengal was elected the first chief minister of balochistan and the nap supported mufti mahmud of the jui as chief minister of the khyber pakhtunkhwa. the party was disbanded in 1975 amidst a government crackdown. it was resurrected in 1976 under the national democratic party under sherbaz mazari but split in 1979 following disagreements amongst the left wing of the party against the leadership.