March 14, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 5, 1429

QUETTA, March 13: The PPP candidate for the chief minister’s slot in Balochistan, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani, has claimed support of 55 members in a house of 65.

Talking to newsmen during a luncheon he hosted in honour of MPAs and parties supporting him, he said that these MPAs belonged to PPP, BNP-Awami, JUI-F, a group of PML-Q and independents.

Over 30 MPAs belonging to different parties and independent group attended the luncheon. “Other MPAs who were not present in the luncheon are out of Quetta,” Nawab Raisani said, adding that parliamentary leaders of supporters’ parties were present on the occasion.

He said the session of the Balochistan Assembly would be convened “in the next few days.”

Nawab Raisani said that he would form a “government of consensus” and would try to keep his cabinet small.