August 23, 2008	Saturday	Sha'aban 20, 1429

QUETTA, Aug 22: Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani has been assured by all coalition partners in the province that they will support Asif Ali Zardari as coalition’s candidate for the post of president.

PPP sources told Dawn on Friday that the chief minister had in recent meetings with parliamentary leaders of different parties in the provincial assembly – Maulana Abdul Wasey of JUI-F, Zamarak Khan Achakzai of ANP and Sardar Sanaullah Zehri of NPP – in Islamabad had informed them about the PPP’s decision to nominate Mr Zardari.

The sources claimed that Mr Raisani had also won the support of 10 ‘like-minded’ members of the PML-Q in the provincial assembly. However, they added, the PML-Q group headed by Sheikh Jaffar Mandokhail had not taken any decision on the issue.

Mr Raisani has also met members of the National Assembly and Senate from Balochistan to seek support for Mr Zardari.

The sources claimed that some PML-Q senators had assured the chief minister of their support for Mr Zardari.