ISLAMABAD, March 22: Senator Wasim Sajjad on Saturday tendered his resignation from his position as leader of the house in the Senate.

He said his resignation would allow the parties forming the new coalition government to appoint a new leader of the house.

Mr Sajjad remained a member of the PML-N until 2000, when he switched sides and joined the king’s party to be elected senator.

He said that he was bound to resign after the emergence of new coalition parties victorious in the Feb 18 polls.

The former combined opposition comprising the PPP, PML-N, MMA and Baloch parties continue to remain in minority in the Senate after landslide victory of their candidates in the National Assembly polls. However, the dynamics of the upper house will change after the formation of the new government as cracks have already started appearing in the former ruling party.

Six senators of the PML-Q have formed a forward bloc announcing to sit on seats separate from their party.

Sources said after the withdrawal of MQM candidate Dr Farooq Sattar as opposition’s joint candidate for the position of PM, the party’s six senators were expected to support the PPP-led coalition on various issues except those which would harm President Musharraf’s position.