LAHORE, Sept 10: The PML-N, which has been criticising the Pakistan People’s Party for not quitting the Punjab cabinet, changed its stance on Wednesday, saying the matter would be settled by its chief Mian Nawaz Sharif after he returned from abroad.

“Forcing the PPP out will not be a good message as the party has been an ally in the ruling coalition,” PML-N Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference here.

“The issue will be discussed after the return of party chief who is presently in London.”

Mr Nisar said that following the good gesture shown by President Asif Zardari, who barred PPP leaders from going all-out against the former ally, PML-N had asked its leaders to reciprocate the move so that undemocratic forces could not take advantage of the situation.

However, he said his party would indulge in issue-related politics and there would be no unconditional support to the federal government.

He said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had called him and said that PML-N ministers’ resignations were being accepted and he (Chaudhry Nisar) would be made opposition leader in the National Assembly.

He denied that there was any conflict in the party ranks over the post of opposition leader.

Mr Nisar also denied the reports that the Punjab situation or statements of Governor Salman Taseer had been discussed in the recent meeting between Zardari and Sharif.

“It was a courtesy call and no political discussion took place as both the sides were positive in expressing their views.”

He said the only issue discussed in the meeting was that of Kashmir and Mr Sharif had urged Mr Zardari to chalk out a clear national policy on issue in the wake of the recent uprising in the valley.

He quoted Mr Zardari as saying that a national caucus of the parties in parliament would be formed to frame recommendations for a unanimous policy on Kashmir.

“Mr Sharif had opposed back-door contacts with India during the Musharraf regime and stressed that his party would only support the policy which was acceptable to Kashmiris,” Mr Nisar said, adding that the uprising showed that no solution from outside could be imposed on the Kashmiris.

He said the PML-N wanted good relations with India but not at the cost of the Kashmiri people.Asked if his party would continue to cooperate with the PPP after it failed to oblige the PML-N on the 17th Amendment and judges issues, he said: “We will not destabilise the government through undemocratic means.”

Mr Nisar said the PML-N was unlikely to relent on 58(2)b, a part of the 17th Amendment, because it wanted a complete revival of the parliamentary system of governance.

“No one should expect an unconditional cooperation from us until the parliamentary system is restored to its Oct 12, 1999, position.”

Playing down a meeting between Governor Taseer and PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Wednesday, he said: “Heavens won’t fall with it.”

He said the PML-N had proved its majority in the provincial assembly during the presidential poll.

Answering a question, Mr Nisar said his party would not allow anyone to put on the back-burner the judges’ issue and would fully support the lawyers’ movement.