LAHORE, March 2: The Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) headed by Pir Pagara and the PML faction led Mian Nawaz Sharif drew closer to each other on Saturday as a result of a dinner meeting between the two sides at the residence of the Sindhi leader.

Rana Muhammad Ashraf Khan assisted the PML(F) president in talks while Sirdar Zulfikar Ali Khan Khosa, Begum Tehmina Daultana, Khwaja Saad Rafiq and Zaeem Husain Qadri and a nephew of the deposed prime minister represented the PML-N at the meeting, second during the past few weeks.

Meetings between the rival factions started after a personal contact by Pir Pagara with the exiled Sharifs in Saudi Arabia that since the latter would not be able to play any role in the politics of the country they should allow their supporters and followers to join hands with the Functional Muslim League. The Sharifs reportedly agreed with the argument.

The deposed prime minister discussed the matter with Ms Tehmina Daultana on Saturday and directed her that the PML-N delegation should hold talks with the Sindhi leader with a positive approach.

They have developed a positive understanding to work with each other. The meeting may pave the way for cooperation between the two sides, a PML-N leader said after the meeting.

However, the source clarified that for the timebeing the two sides had not discussed the possibility of electoral cooperation.

The source said that the Pir had made it absolutely clear that he had no intention to join hands with the PML-QA.