A hardline Islamic coalition in Pakistan will share power in Baluchistan province, which borders Afghanistan, with the party of Pakistan's moderate prime minister.
The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, or M-M-A, scored huge gains in last month's elections by campaigning to end the U-S-led hunt for al-Qaida terrorists in the province. But Pakistani officials say the power sharing deal will have no effect on Islamabad's continuing cooperation with the U-S led war on terrorism.
In a vote today (Saturday), M-M-A's Jamal Shah Kakar was elected speaker of the Baluchistan legislature with 37 votes. The alliance, in turn, agreed that Jam Mohammed Yousaf of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam will be chief minister.
The deal is part of a 12-point agreement on policies the two sides reached Friday that, among other things, calls for a ban of alcohol.
Last week, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was sworn in as Pakistan's prime minister, officially ending three years of military rule. He has pledged to help lead the fight against terrorism.