ISLAMABAD, Dec 31: PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told a European Union delegation and media persons on Monday that 98 per cent of his party’s leaders and followers were ready to take part in the election whether it was held on Jan 8 or delayed for some time.

The EU delegation met the PML chief and discussed with him issues relating to the election.

Both sides agreed that free and fair election should be held on schedule.

Later, talking to media persons, Chaudhry Shujaat regretted the derogatory remarks about the PML-Q given by PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari. He said the remarks were insulting to the Quaid-i-Azam and against the spirit of reconciliation.

Mr Zardari had called the PML-Q ‘qatil league’ in his news conference at Naudero on Sunday.

The PML-Q chief said his party did not want a clash with any party, including the PPP, and it wanted peace during the polls. He said the PML-Q was prepared for going into the election before Dec 27 and it was still ready to participate if all other parties were ready.

He, however, said the Election Commission was the final authority which could change the election schedule if it was necessitated by the circumstances.

In reply to a question, he said his party welcomed foreign observes for the election but added that the real observes were the media and the people.

Talking to the PML leadership, the EU delegation’s leader Michael Gala said the schedule could be changed but the election could not be postponed indefinitely.

He said the members of the delegation were working as election observers and meeting leaders of all political parties. They wanted the election to he held on time, he said.