Within two week of joining the government, differences in Pakistan Muslim League (Q) became more visible on Sunday after the resignation by Minister for Production Engineer Ameer Muqam from the Cabinet.
Ameer Muqam submitted his resignation to party President Shujaat Hussain after expiry of one week deadline to the party for making public agreement reached with the ruling party to join the coalition government.
Ameer is reported to have said that he would not revisit the decision of quitting the Cabinet, and confirmed to a section of media that President Asif Ali Zardari had contacted him with a request to withdraw the resignation. He was quoted as saying that the President had also assured him that all his concerns would be given due consideration. However, Shujaat confirmed receiving the resignation during talks with media and said that the party did not accept the resignation tendered by Ameer Muqam. He said that Ameer had submitted his resignation to the party President by following discipline and the party would be able to convince him on revisiting the decision.
He said that it was an internal matter of the party and would be resolved amicably. Shujjat claimed that decision to join the government was taken after months' consultation within the party at all tiers and everybody was in favour of alliance with Pakistan People's Party (PPP). He added that PML-Q had joined the government keeping in view national interest as well as party interest.
About the joint sitting of the Parliament, Shujaat said that consensus resolution, passed by the Parliament, would have positive impact and improve image of the country abroad.