LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani says that he has brought a message of reconciliation and goodwill for Nawaz Sharif.

Talking to reporters at the Lahore airport here on Saturday evening, Gilani said the PPP wanted reconciliation to strengthen democracy. He said he would comment on his meeting with Nawaz Sharif after meeting him on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) says it has no objection in forming a coalition government with the Pakistan People’s Party in Punjab if Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani desires so in his meeting with Nawaz Sharif scheduled for Sunday.

In a related development, a majority of the PPP provincial legislators also voiced in favour of going along with the PML-N at a meeting in Lahore here on Saturday. It was presided over by former senior minister Raja Riaz.

After the restoration of deposed judges our confidence in the prime minister has improved immensely and we don’t see any problem if he wants the PML-N to again join hands with his party in Punjab,' PML-N leader and former provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah told Dawn.

Praising Gilani, Rana said there was a positive feeling in the ranks of the PML-N for the prime minister. Moreover, he said the party had no issue with the PPP either which was very comfortable (with the PML-N) as a junior partner in the province before the imposition of the governor’s rule on Feb 25.

Rana Sanaullah said the prime minister had a reconciliatory approach and his role during the crisis remained highly appreciable.

'We see Governor Salmaan Taseer a main irritant in future PPP-PML-N alliance. Taseer is still taking a different line and the PML-N knows it is not the PPP’s line,' he said and added that during the coalition in Punjab none of the PPP legislators had any issue with the PML-N.

On the other hand, Raja Riaz also confirmed that the reconciliation process between the two parties could once again kick off in the wake of Gilani-Nawaz meeting at Raiwind. He, however, clarified that the prime minister was meeting Mr Sharif with the consent of President Zardari.

To a question whether Mr Gilani would convey president’s message to Mr Sharif regarding reconciliation, Raja said there was a possibility.

Raja Riaz further said that the PPP supported the Shujaat formula of three-party government in Punjab. The PML-N however outrightly rejected the idea saying that in the parliamentary system it would not work in the absence of opposition.

'This is also against the spirit of democracy,' Rana said.

Over 100 PPP legislators attended the Saturday meeting. According to some legislators Dawn spoke to, a majority of them wanted restoration of the previous set-up – PPP-PML-N coalition while others stressed for joining hands with the PML-Q.

Those against the PPP-PML-N alliance were of the view that after breakdown of the relations with the PML-N there was no point in sitting with them on the treasury benches. While those in favour of it said in the presence of a ‘bloated’ PML-Q forward bloc it would be unwise exploring possibilities of alliance with it (PML-Q).

Joining hands with the PML-N would help in strengthening democracy and allowing PPP complete five-year term, they said and cautioned, otherwise the PML-N would continue to be a ‘stumbling block’.