April 07, 2008	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 29, 1429

QUETTA, April 6: The first session of the Balochistan Assembly will be held here on Monday at 11am with the only agenda being oath-taking by newly-elected members.

Outgoing speaker Jamal Shah Kakar will administer oath to 62 of the 65 members.

Three seats fell vacant for different reasons, death of Malik Sarwar Khan Kakar, Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi became the governor of the province; and Jam Muhammad Yousuf decided to retain his NA seat.

The PPP has 11 seats in the assembly, PML-Q 20, MMA 10, Independents 9, Balochistan National Party (Awami) 7, ANP 3 and JUI-ideological and PML-N one each.

The PML-Q had emerged as the single largest party in the provincial assembly in Feb 18 polls but its members are divided into three groups.

The first PML-Q group is led by Jaffar Khan Mandokhel, the second by Muhammad Aslam Bhootani and the third has only one member Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind.

Mr Mandokhel and Mr Bhootani have backed the PPP candidate, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani, for the slot of chief minister.

The MMA, BNP-Awami, independents, ANP, JUI-ideological and PML-N have also announced their support for Nawab Raisani.