ISLAMABAD - The federal ministers belonging to Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Tuesday afternoon submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here at the Prime Minister House. However, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani politely refused to accept the resignations and said that the decision to accept or otherwise would be decided after the arrival of Co-Chairman Pakistan People's Party Asif Ali Zardari. "Let's wait and try to resolve the matter," he said and quoting Zardari's message not to accept the resignation till his return. Prime Minister Gilani said there was no doubt on either side about sincere intentions of the other partner. "The only difference is on the modalities," he added. The PML-N ministers have resigned from the federal cabinet as per the decision of the party's Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting that was held under the chair of Mian Nawaz Sharif on Monday last, wherein it was decided that as they failed to get the deposed judges of superior courts restored to pre-November 3 position, it was not possible for them to remain part of the government. But at the same time PML-N decided to continue extending support to the coalition government in Centre and not to sit on opposition benches. On Tuesday afternoon, PML-N federal ministers led by Senior Federal Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in Prime Minister House and had a lunch with him. The sources close to the PML-N informed that the team of N-League ministers wanted to see Premier Gilani in the morning but on his request they joined him at lunch where they tendered their resignations to him in the light of the decision made in this connection by the CWC meeting of the party on Monday, the day the second deadline for restoration of the deposed judges also lapsed. During the meeting with the PML-N federal ministers, Prime Minister appreciated their party gesture to remain part of the coalition for the sake of democracy and to help solve the problems facing masses. Ch Nisar Ahmed apprised the Prime Minister though they were quitting the federal cabinet, their party would continue to support the government in the national interest and to strengthen the cause of democracy. During the meeting, the PM also talked to PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif on telephone on the crucial decision of stepping out of the federal cabinet and requested him to review his decision. Reportedly, Nawaz Sharif had expressed his inability to review the decision and said that the decision to leave the cabinet was painful for him. But at the same time he assured the Prime Minister of his party's continued support and cooperation to the government for the strengthening of democratic institutions in the country. The nine ministers who resigned include; Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Tehmina Daultana, Rana Tanveer Ahmed, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Saad Rafique. The ministers submitted their resignation six weeks after the PML-N joined the coalition government led by Pakistan People's Party. The ministers took oath of office on March 31. The two major partners in the four-party coalition failed to agree to the mode of restoration of judges, who were deposed under the imposition of emergency on November 3, 2007. Earlier at the lunch hosted in honour of the federal cabinet members at Prime Minister House, in which the nine federal ministers from PML-N participated for the last time as federal ministers, as soon after the lunch they submitted their resignations, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that the country was in the grip of serious crisis and required cooperation and joint efforts to strengthen democracy. "We are determined to steer the nation out of these crises with the cooperation of allies," he added. The Prime Minister referring to a statement by the PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif that the coalition would remain intact said, "It is the right signal to the people of Pakistan." He said that the nation wanted the coalition of PPP and PML-N to remain intact and these two partners to take the country out of crisis. He said the nation was facing serious crisis of judiciary, constitution, strengthening the institutions, unemployment, poverty and inflation. Later, Ch Nisar told the media persons that the Prime Minister had refused to accept the resignations and he also had a telephonic conversation with Nawaz Sharif. He said whether the resignations were accepted or not, the party would not be the part of the cabinet. "We will not participate in government decision-making process," he added. Reiterating the PML-N Quaid's statement that the party would sit on the treasury benches and support the government on issue-to-issue basis, he said the PML-N would not support any move to destabilise the government. He underscored that PML-N had made a commitment to the nation for reinstatement of the judges and it would stand by it even if it had to "sacrifice" its government in Punjab. Nisar said the resignations had been addressed to the office of president, as under the Constitution a minister could resign in writing to the president. The party didn't accept the holder as legal head of state, he added. In response to a question, he said the party would not support any constitutional amendment that ran counter to the spirit of the March 9 Bhurban Summit Declaration by PML-N and PPP leadership for the restoration of the deposed judges. Nisar underscored that PML-N had made a commitment to the nation for reinstatement of the judges and it would stand by it even if it had to "sacrifice" its government in Punjab. Nisar Ali Khan made it clear that PML-N would not support any constitutional amendment contrary to the spirit of Murree Accord, signed between PPP and PML-N on March 9 for the restoration of the deposed judges. He said the people had given their mandate to his party in February's elections for its stand on the restoration of the judges. He also said that the return of the deposed judiciary to pre-November 3, 2007 position was indispensable for justice and rule of law in the country. He said that PML-N ministers had submitted their resignations to Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani. Chaudhry Nisar said that the Prime Minister had refused to accept the resignations and he held a telephone conversation with PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif. Elaborating further his party's view, he said whether the resignations were accepted or not, PML-N would not be part of the cabinet. "We will not participate in government decision-making process," he added. Reiterating the PML-N Quaid's statement that the party would not sit on the Opposition benches and continue supporting the government on issue-to-issue basis. He also added that PML-N would not support any move to de-stabilize the government and democratic process. Nisar Ali Khan said the resignations had been addressed to the office of President, as under the Constitution, a minister could resign in writing to the President. The party did not accept Musharraf as legal head of the state, he said. Nisar Ali Khan also said Shahbaz Sharif would contest by-elections and there was no reason for rejection of his candidature. PML-N's central leader also said his party would support the efforts of civil society and lawyers for the cause of independent judiciary. Other party MNAs present on the occasion were Tehmina Daultana, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Professor Ahsan Iqbal.