Islamabad, Nov 28: Pakistan's six party Islamist Alliance, which was poised to form the provincial government in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), has brightened its prospects to form a coalition government in the neighbouring Baluchistan, the home province of Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. The Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA) consisting of pro-Taliban and anti-American Islamic parties having 18 members in the 65 member Baluchistan assembly, claimed the support of 35 members, enough to claim simple majority, whereas pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) headed by Jamali could muster only around 28.
MMA could now form the government as some of the smaller parties came forward to back it, against the claims of PML-Q.
If MMA manages to win Baluchistan, then it would hold power in two key provinces bordering Afghanistan where a number of Taliban and al Qaeda militants are reportedly hiding.


Bureau Report