April 12, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 11: The Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) has suffered another blow with eight of its senators from Balochistan forming a group to “protect the interests of the province and rights of its people”.

All members of the Balochistan assembly belonging to the PML-Q, except Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, have already joined the coalition government.

During a meeting held on Thursday at the residence of Deputy Chairman of Senate Jan Mohammad Jamali who is heading the group, the PML-Q senators said they would support all steps taken by the government for the welfare of the people of the province.

In February, six senators led by former federal minister Neelofar Bakhtiar had formed a forward bloc.

Mr Jamali has turned down the party leadership’s request to reverse the decision and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi has threatened legal action under the defection clause.

Mr Jamali told Dawn that the group had communicated its decision to the party leadership.

Other members of the group are: Senators Saeed Hashmi, Pari Gul Agha, Wali Mohammad Badini, Kulsoom Parveen, Naseer Mengal, Mohabbat and Rehana Yahya.