ISLAMABAD, May 23: Senior PML leader Zafarullah Khan Jamali met Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Wednesday and refused to withdraw his resignation from the basic membership of the party.

He had met President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday and given him a copy of the letter addressed to PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain enlisting his grievances.

Talking to newsmen after his meeting with the prime minister, Mr Jamali said that he was concerned over the situation that had arisen because the entire responsibility of the presidential reference against the Chief Justice had been put on President Musharraf, instead of the government.

He said that during his meeting with the president and the prime minister, he had made it clear that he had submitted his resignation after thoroughly considering the matter. However, he added, he would continue to support Gen Musharraf.

When asked if he had taken the step in view of the declining popularity graph of the PML, the former premier said: “I am not concerned about the party graph, but about the country’s future.”

In his letter to Chaudhry Shujaat, Mr Jamali had showered words of appreciation for Gen Musharraf and criticised the policies of the party leadership.

He said that he resigned from the office of prime minister when his party had lost confidence in him and now when he was being ignored by the party he was resigning from its basic membership.

Meanwhile, an official handout issued here said Mr Jamali discussed with the prime minister the “overall political situation in the country, the upcoming budget and various development projects particularly those relating to Balochistan.”

Mr Jamali informed the prime minister that he was and would always remain a staunch Muslim Leaguer and continue to provide the necessary support, advice and counsel to all.