QUETTA, Feb 27: The designated parliamentary leader of the Pakistan People’s Party in the Balochistan assembly, Nawab Aslam Raisani, said on Wednesday that stopping the military operation in the province and locating missing political workers would be top priorities of his party.

Talking to newsmen after attending a reception hosted by caretaker Chief Minister Sardar Saleh Bhootani, he said the PPP-lead government would initiate a process of dialogue with militant groups for maintaining law and order.

Responding to a question relating to formation of a coalition government in the province, Mr Raisani said the PPP was in contact with other parties.

He said: “Some dissidents in the PML-Q will join the coalition government and they are in contact with the PPP.”

Nawab Raisani reiterated the demand for maximum provincial autonomy for all federating units.He said the PPP would resist if President Pervez Musharraf tried to interfere in the formation of a coalition government in Balochistan.