ISLAMABAD Nov 4: The Grand National Alliance, a loose grouping of six parties, and the PML-Q on Monday claimed to have achieved sufficient votes in the national assembly and formally named Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali as its joint candidate for the prime minister’s post.

Speaking at a joint news conference Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, president Millat Party and a leader of the NA, and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain parliamentary leader of PML-Q said that efforts to create a national consensus in the formation of a coalition would continued in order to ensure a stable government.

Replying to a query whether the GNA had achieved any success in the numbers game, Chaudhry Shujaat said: “We are capable of forming our government”.

Earlier, it may be recalled, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had announced on Saturday the name of Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali for premiership without consulting the NA leadership, which angered Sardar Farooq Leghari.

Before appearing at the news conference the PML-Q leaders, including Mian Mohammad Azhar, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Lt-Gen Majeed Malik, and Salim Saifullah Khan held a two-and-half hours at the NA office.

The PML-Q president Mian Mohammad Azhar, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, NAPP chief Ajmal Khattak, PPP (Sherpao)’s Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Gohar Ayub Khan, Lt-Gen Majeed Malik represented the PML-Q, and Sardar Farooq Leghari-led NA team comprised Ajmal Khattak, Arbab Rahim, Irfanullah Marwat and Mohammad Ali Durrani at the talks.

Speaking on behalf of the NA, Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari said: “We feel that a serious effort was needed to form a sound and stable government capable of steering the country out a crises situation.”

He claimed: “We all are together in the restoration of the supremacy of law and sanctity of the Constitution and want to end the politics of confrontation, the legacy of our past.”

Mr Jamali also met Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and sought his support in the contest for the prime minister’s office.

Sherpao readily announced that he had been in constant touch with the PML-Q and would support its candidate. Later, he became part of the consultations between the PML-Q and NA.

Earlier in the day, Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Maulana Fazlur Rahman also met Leghari.

Replying to a question about the Alliance’s talks with the MMA Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said: “The ball was in their court. They now have to tell us their position regarding the LFO and other issues.”

He said, he has been trying fix a meeting with the MMA, but in vain.