QUETTA: President Asif Ali Zardari asked Balochistan Governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi on Thursday to play his role in setting up a political government in the province after lifting of the governor’s rule some time next week.

Sources said the president had a meeting with parliamentary leaders of all political parties having representation in the Balochistan Assembly on the issue of lifting of governor’s rule and electing a new chief minister and an opposition leader before the dissolution of the assembly on completion of its tenure.

During the meeting, JUI-F parliamentary leader Maulana Abdul Wasey suggested that with the lifting of governor’s rule the former government should be restored with Nawab Aslam Raisani as the chief minister.

However, leaders of other political parties opposed the suggestion. They pointed out that the JUI-F had already said that Nawab Raisani had resigned from the office of the chief minister.

They gave their suggestions for the new government.

“President Zardari heard each parliamentary leader with full attention,” the sources said, adding the president told them that the decision about the new leader of the house should be taken with consultation.

The sources said that Mr Zardari asked the governor to hold talks with parliamentary leaders of all political parties on the formation of a new government.—Staff Correspondent