LAHORE, Jan 20: Makhdoom Ahmad Mehmood, a landlord-politician of Rahimyar Khan, has met the PML-Q’s Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz Elahi to convey them PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s message that he is ready to shake hands with them in view of the changing political scenario.

Senior leaders in the two PML factions confirmed the meeting.

Mr Mehmood, a PML-Functional leader considered to be close to the Sharifs, has been asked by the PML-N chief to meet the Chaudhrys and find out whether they are ready to part ways with the PPP and join hands with the PML-N.

According to a source privy to the meeting, Makhdoom Mehmood told the Chaudhrys that ice had melt and Mr Sharif had expressed his willingness to make an alliance with them.

“Joining hands with the Sharifs means you will have to say goodbye to the PPP government straightaway and discuss matters related to future elections or set-up with them (Sharifs),” the source quoted Makhdoom Mehmood as having said. He said Mr Sharif had also proposed the name of a veteran journalist, who is also an editor of an Urdu daily, as guarantor of the N-Q alliance.

However, the sources said, the Chaudhrys told Mr Mehmood that if Nawaz Sharif publicly promised not to ditch their party (PML-Q) at any point they were ready to hold talks with him (Sharif) over the alliance.

“The Chaudhrys also told Sharif’s messenger that he (Sharif) is not a reliable person and no one is ready to give a guarantee on his behalf that he will keep his word,” he said.

The sources said as the PML-N did not want to use the option of resignations (from the assemblies) to force the government into an early general election, it believed that if the PML-Q quit the government, the PML-N would achieve its goal.

“The PML-Q leadership is also taking the Sharifs’ offer as a trap,” he said.

Mr Mehmood told Dawn that he met the Chaudhrys as part of his “own efforts” to unite all Muslim League factions.

“It is my initiative and I have no specific directive from Nawaz Sharif,” he said in reply to a question.

He said that if all Muslim League factions especially N and Q, were united no other party had a potential to beat them.

Asked about ‘strong differences’ between the Sharifs and Chaudhrys, Mr Mehmood said: “There is no last word in politics.”

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said: “Mr Mehmood has discussed with us the possibility of PML-N and -Q alliance.”

To a question whether the PML-Q was considering quitting alliance with the PPP in the face of the PML-N offer, Mr Elahi said:

“We have not said yes to Mr Mehmood.”

On his part, PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid said the PML-N was ready to hold talks with the PML-Q provided Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain parted ways with the PPP.