ISLAMABAD: People’s Party leader Nabeel Gabol, who resigned as minister of state for ports and shipping, has decided to retain the post after a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Friday.

Mr Gabol sent his resignation on Wednesday to the prime minister, who called the former and said he should have consulted the party leadership before tendering the resignation.

“When a raid was conducted at your home you should have contacted Interior Minister Rehman Malik or me instead of issuing statements to the media because you are a member of the PPP CEC as well,” Mr Gilani reportedly told Mr Gabol. The prime minister had also asked Mr Gabol to meet him in Islamabad.

During the meeting, the sources told Dawn, Mr Gilani contacted Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali Khan on telephone.

Mr Asfandyar recently complained to President Asif Ali Zardari about some remarks made by Mr Gabol on a television channel.

The sources said that Mr Zardari had issued a ‘final warning’ to Mr Gabol some three months ago and asked him not to issue any statement about the situation in Karachi, particularly about the relationship with coalition partners -- the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and ANP.

Mr Gilani is reported to have made Mr Asfandyar and Mr Gabol talk to each others in a bid to reconcile them. After that the PPP MNA from Lyari offered to withdraw his resignation.

The prime minister also assured Mr Gabol that he would intercede with the president on his behalf and arrange a meeting between them.

Political observers are of the opinion that although the prime minister has the powers to accept or reject a resignation, Mr Gabol’s fate will ultimately be decided by Mr Zardari as co-chairman of the PPP. “This is why the prime minister has promised for the meeting.”