Makhdoom Amin Fahim, vice chairman of the PPP who had been expected to become prime minister in a coalition government, was quoted as telling a private TV channel he would work to strengthen the party in any capacity, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

The PPP, the party of slain former Pime Minister Benazir Bhutto, won the largest number of seats in last month's national assembly elections and is set to form a coalition with the Pakistan Muslim League-N of Nawaz Sharif, another former prime minister.

The PPP is now led by co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto's husband.

There had been reports differences had arisen between Zardari and Fahim as the party is yet to name its candidate for prime minister. Fahim, who apparently was absent at the Sunday coalition talks, reportedly said he wasn't invited to the meeting.

The APP report said a majority of the Pakistanis want him to become prime minister but Fahim was quoted as saying, "But I will not say even a single word until my party takes a decision."