LAHORE, Dec 27: PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi returned home aboard the same flight on Saturday afternoon after attending a marriage ceremony in Dubai.

Mr Sharif did not talk to media personnel and drove off straight to his Raiwind residence. However, Mr Elahi told reporters that his party was enjoying its time in the opposition.

“We (the PML-Q) are mandated to play the role of an opposition (party) and are happy to do that.

“The Central Working Committee of the party has also decided to keep the party in the opposition and the leadership is respecting its decision,” he said.

He dispelled the impression that he had met Mr Sharif during his stay in Dubai, saying they met neither at the marriage ceremony nor on the aircraft.

“Rumours are part of the political process but should not be taken too seriously,” he said.

Mr Elahi said that PPP and PML-N should concentrate on fulfilling their election promises and let the PML-Q play the role of a “positive opposition”.

He, however, said negotiations with the PML-N were possible if the party changed its policy of “joining the government and quitting it at frequent intervals”.

Flanked by his son Moonis Elahi, the former Punjab chief minister said the PML-N was confused about its role since it was part of the Punjab government but claimed to be in the opposition at the centre.

“The PML-N needs to bring this confusion to an end before approaching any party for talks. The matter of unification will be taken up at the party platform if the PML-N approaches it.”

A party worker, however, said: “Although Mr Elahi is denying the meeting, ice has certainly been broken between the two leaders.”

Mr Elahi and Mr Sharif were under tremendous pressure to join hands, he said. “Both leaders understand that there will be no point in unification if they contest Senate elections separately.

“Both parties will be losers in that case, although none of them wants to be on the losing side,” he said.

Had Chaudhry Shujaat been there at the ceremony, he said, things would have been different.