In Gen land, King’s Party stakes claim to form govt

PML(Q), which has been accused of being the ‘‘king’s party’’, backed by the military regime, has support of the national alliance which has won 16 seats in the October 10 polls, and it hopes to make up for the rest of the seats with support of independents and regional parties, including the Sindh-based Muthahida Quami Movement (MQM).

The party chose Jamali, a former caretaker Chief Minister of North West Baluchistan in the past, as Prime Ministerial candidate on the grounds to provide representation to the country’s smallest province.

Soon after Jamali’s nomination, he along with other party leaders called on Musharraf. Their meeting lasted for three-and-a-half hours.

Meanwhile, President Musharraf today postponed the opening session of the newly elected National Assembly to Nov 8, a move dubbed by mainstream parties as a time gap to allow PML(Q) to secure majority.