ISLAMABAD, March 2: The PPP Patriots ceased to exist in Punjab after its 10 MNAs and five MPAs, led by Senior Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, joined the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and formally merged their party with the PML on Friday.
The MNAs announced the merger decision at a press conference in the federal capital and the MPAs at a meeting with the Punjab chief minister in Lahore.
The Patriots decided to join the ruling party even without any clear assurance that they would get party tickets for the seats they had won in 2002 general election.
PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain did not accept the demand of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi for an undertaking that they would be given party tickets for contesting from their old constituencies before the announcement of the merger decision.
He refused to offer any such assurance, saying: "Such things should not be discussed in the presence of newsmen."
Mr Niazi's reply could not be heard and the leaders moved out of the residence of Environment Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat to the PML Secretariat where the Patriot MPs met the press.
Eight MPs of the Rao faction of the PPP Patriots had already joined the PML while the Sherpao faction, with two MNAs and one Senator from the NWFP, decided against the merger.
Before the merger announcement, senior PML leaders and PPP Patriots MPs held a meeting with President General Pervez Musharraf at the latter's camp office in Rawalpindi.
According to the sources privy to the meeting, President Musharraf urged the Patriots to extend their support to the PML and brighten its chances to win the forthcoming elections.
Later, leaders from the two sides had a heated discussion at the residence of Mr Hayat, said the sources. Twice did they decide to cancel the scheduled news conference, they added.
Rao Sikandar, a close friend of President Musharraf, attributed his faction’s merger decision to "the far-sightedness of President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and political sagacity of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.”
Chaudhry Shujaat told reporters that there were chances of changes in the constituencies of the contestants.
Raza Hayat Hiraj made it clear that the Rao faction had merged with the PML unconditionally. He expressed confidence that it would continue to enjoy support of the chief ministers of Punjab and Sindh.
Prime Minister Aziz described the Patriots decision as historic “which will strengthen the party and enable it to win outright the coming elections.”
Minister for Science and Technology Noraiz Shakoor said: "All of us belong to the PML and we will contest elections under the leadership of President Musharraf.”
Political observers believe that the merger decision was dictated by the fact that PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto had refused to re-admit the Patriots into her party ahead of the next elections and none of them was in a position to win his seat without the support of the ruling party.
When asked whether the government would still pursue the PPP for an election alliance, Chaudhry Shujaat and Prime Minister Aziz said there was no chance for a deal with any party as the PML was in a position to win elections on its own.
"Our deal is with people and we will continue to serve them," said the prime minister.
Chaudhry Shujaat told a questioner that the merger of the Patriots would strengthen the party in Punjab and Sindh. He thanked the prime minister for his interest in uniting the PML.
Those present at the press conference included Faisal Saleh Hayat, Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Noraiz Shakoor, Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, Mohammed Raza Hayat Hiraj, Sardar Faiz Mohammed Tamman, Asad Murtaza Gilani, Azhar Ahmed Khan Yusufzai, Zaheer Abbas Khokhar and Hamid Yar Hiraj – all MNAs.
Members of the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Sindh, belonging to the PPP Patriots, were also present on the occasion. ASHRAF MUMTAZ ADDS FROM LAHORE: Five MPAs of the PPP Patriots joined the ruling PML on Friday. They announced their decision at a meeting with Chief Minister and Punjab PML president Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.
Those who joined the PML are Naveed Jehanian, Rashid Bhatti, Sardar Shaukat Dogar, Rana Aftab and Ms Imbsaat Khan.
PML secretary-general Chaudhry Zahiruddin and Law Minister Raja Basharat were also present.
The chief minister welcomed the decision of the Patriots and hoped it would strengthen the party in Punjab.
A number of PML leaders appreciated the move, saying that it would weaken the PPP.
