LONDON: As speculations build about the possibility of him forming a new party, PML-N leader Shahid Khagan Abbasi visited party supremo Nawaz Sharif at Stanhope House on Tuesday, spending more than two hours in a one-on-one meeting.

Mr Abbasi arrived in London on Monday and is scheduled to leave today (Wednesday). Sources told Dawn the two had a cordial meeting. As reports of Mr Abbasi becoming disillusioned with the party have intensified, sources said the former PM informed Nawaz that he can `no longer work in the party`, but that the meeting ended on a respectful note.

As he emerged from the meeting, reporters pressed him with questions about his platform, `Reimagining Pakistan`, his discussion with Nawaz and whether he had called it a day with the PML-N.

However, Mr Abbasi`s responses were guarded.

He said the two spoke about the state of the country. `It is a 35-year relationship between me and Mian sb. I gave my point of view on the current political situation. Our relationship has a deep history.

To a question about him not wanting to work with Maryam Nawaz, he said, `I have no reservations, no complaints against anyone and I`m not upset. I don`t live life like that.

When pressed on the question of a new party, Mr Abbasi said, `I have said before there is a need for a new party.

Fielding questions about Nawaz`s return to Pakistan, he said. `Mian Nawaz Sharif has a role to play. I am not in favour of a big welcome because he has legal issues to address. I was not consulted on the return but I do feel [his] legal issues and injustice[s] done against him should be addressed and fixed.

Asked about the crackdown against PTI, he said, `May 9 is a unique tragedy in Pakistan. Whoever has taken part in the violence, the government should proceed against them through a process. That is called prosecution, but there should be no persecution. It should all happen according to the law and Constitution.