LAHORE, Sept 30: The PML-Q is 'inclined' to become coalition partner with the PPP at the federal level, putting aside some positive gestures lately sent by the PML-N.

Party sources told Dawn on Tuesday that the situation had reached a stage that only some major development could change the mindset of the party leadership.

Top PML-Q and the PPP leaders were in contact with each other and their outcome would be made public in near future.

It is said that at a recent meeting of some important leaders PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat revealed that he had received a message from the PML-N leadership that he should reach Saudi Arabia for talks between the two sides. However, he did not pay a visit to the kingdom, saying it appeared as if he was being 'summoned' there.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has been in Saudi Arabia for the last few days where he performed Umra. His brother and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also spent a few days in the kingdom and performed Umra along with his family. He returned home on Tuesday.

On the other hand, President Asif Ali Zardari phoned Shujaat and asked him that his party - the PML-Q - should join the federal government without delay.

Shujaat discussed contacts with the PPP and the PML-N at a meeting of some important party leaders in Islamabad a few days ago.

Although the opinion was divided at the outset, more people were supportive of cooperation with the PPP by the time the meeting came to an end.

"The mood and the body language of Shujaat showed that he won't have any problem working with the PPP, burying the bitterness of the past", sources said.

Some of the participants said that the PML-Q should seek the chief ministership of Punjab in return for cooperation with the PPP in the country's biggest province, where the PPP and the PML-N are together in government but remain strange bedfellows. However, more internal party discussions on the subjects will be held later.

One PML-Q leader said while talking to Dawn that cooperation with the PML-N would have been possible even at the time of the presidential election if the attitude of the PML-N leadership had been friendly. In that case, he said, either the party would not have had its own presidential candidate or would have withdrawn the same in favour of the PML-N's nominee. Similarly, he said, cooperation between the two parties was a possibility even in general elections. But, he said, the attitude of the PML-N leadership was an obstacle.

The PML-N is also closely monitoring the situation and weighing its options for various scenarios. The party hopes that its alliance with the PPP will continue.