LAHORE, Sept 6: Indicating that the PML-N Punjab government was ready to face all odds, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday announced accepting the election of Mr Zardari and playing “only the democratic game.”

And where he was cautious in choosing words to air his views, his Law Minister Rana Sanaullah warned that his party would pay back in the same coin if any adventurism was made by any one (to remove the Punjab government).

Talking to reporters at the Punjab Assembly, Mr Sharif said the PML-N did not want confrontation because the country could not afford it. The party was not responsible for what had happened (between it and the PPP). The alliance would have continued had the PPP fulfilled its agreements.

“We can still join the alliance provided the PPP fulfills the promises,” he said.

The chief minister said the Punjab government would remain in tact as it was ready to face all the present and future challenges. It would not weaken because of the departure of the PPP ministers.

Nevertheless, he said, the party would not start confrontation or participate in any attempt to destabilise the federal government. It would instead play the democratic game from the opposition benches in the National Assembly.

The chief minister criticised the method of the restoration of judges, and said that this was wrong and could be challenged in the court of law by anyone any time. The judiciary would destroy with this policy of pick and choose, he said.

He said being the head of state the president should remain above party politics, fulfill all commitments and work towards the abolition of Article 58(2) b and the 17th Amendment.

Replying to a question on law and order, he said, it could not be improved in a country where retired police officials were used to be re-employed.

“One cannot clear the mess of eight years in just eight weeks,” he said.

Rana Sanaullah Khan who talked to reporters after the announcement of the election results said that the PML-N had never claimed that its candidate would win. It had fielded its own candidate after the PPP failed to honour its commitments.

He said he was satisfied with the results as the party candidate bagged more votes than its government needed to maintain simple majority in Punjab. “We have 208 votes and we need just 186 supporters to stay in power. Those attempting to remove us will themselves not stay. The federal government will not stay if it fails to take everyone along,” he said.

The minister said the PML-N had left the federal government and now it was the turn of the PPP to define its course of action in Punjab otherwise “we will take action.” To explain his point he said the chief minister had powers to remove any minister.

He said the judges were being restored in a manner designed by Gen Musharraf. No-one would accept it.

He hoped that the PML-Q forward bloc would also support the PML-N government as it voted for its candidate. The party created by a dictator should merge into the parent PML-N.