ISLAMABAD, Nov 7: Secretary-general of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) and the party’s candidate for prime ministership, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Thursday that he would not step down for any other candidate either from the PPP or the MMA.

Jamali, who held meetings with two other candidates for the top slot — Maulana Fazlur Rahman of MMA and Makhdoom Amin Fahim of PPP —late last night, was responding to the questions of newsmen at an iftar dinner he hosted for newly-elected party legislatures and leaders from other parties at the Balochistan House.

He reacted sharply when asked if the PML-Q would accept turncoats who might form forward blocks in their parties.

“You cannot term a respectable member of the assembly turncoat (Lota) as he enjoys the confidence of his electorate and decides according to the voice of his conscience.”

He said the floor-crossing law was not in vogue right now and if some members of other parties decided to join the PML-Q they would be welcomed and it would not be an illegal thing.

He said he was a consensus candidate of his party which was of the opinion that the PML-Q had the right to form the government as it emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly.

Jamali said it was not fair to ask for sacrifice when a representative from a smaller province had been nominated for the top slot for the first time in the 55 years of our history.

He said: “It is my party’s decision and it is not going to change, come what may. I am bound by this decision.”

When asked if his party would join hands with the PPP if circumstances so demanded, the PML-Q leader said: “We will talk to any party which believes in the solidarity of the country and wants to work for its glory.”

About prospects of resumption of PML-Q-MMA talks, he said: “It depends whether the alliance is ready and invites us to such talks.”

Speaking about his meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Jamali admitted that he had argued with the Maulana to step down in his favour which he refused.

He said: “I warned Maulana Fazlur Rahman that neither the PPP nor the JI will vote for him and it would be better is he voluntarily withdraws his candidature.”

About his meeting with Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Jamali said: “We discussed issues relating to formation of a coalition government and chances of cooperation between that two parties.”

When asked whether Fahim put up any conditions for cooperation, Jamali replied in negative. A decision on who would be the party’s ally would soon be taken and made public, he added.