RAWALPINDI, Dec 8: The merger of Sherpao and Patriots factions of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will formally be announced within this month.

This was stated by Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, who is also the chairman of his own faction of the PPP, while was talking to lawyers, Nazims, councillors and traders at an Eid Milan party here on Monday.

The chairman of the PPP-Sherpao lawyers organization, Javidullah Khattak, had arranged the event.

Mr Sherpao said the merger was aimed at providing a platform to the followers of the ideology and mission of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

The followers have not been provided with any opportunity by the PPP to realize their dreams and mission after Mr Bhutto’s death. Owing to this, many people are not actively participating in politics despite longing to work for bringing a positive change in the country’s politics and institutions, he added.

After the merger, the party leaders will contact people at the gross-roots level countrywide, he said.

The minister said his party’s position was much stronger in NWFP due its performance. Potohar region has always played a revolutionary role in restoration of democracy in the country, he added.

Mr Sherpao said Saarc summit, scheduled to be held in the capital in the first week of January, would help in the peaceful solution of Kashmir.

The confidence building measures taken by Pakistan and India, if followed with sincerity, can ultimately lead to the solution of all issues between the two countries, he added.

The minister criticized the opposition, both in Parliament and Senate, for its inaction regarding new legislations.

“The opposition has merely done desk thumping during the last one year.

In parliamentary system, the opposition has a role never less important than the government and without this role democracy can not be guided on a smooth track.”

The minister said the time had come when the opposition should realize that only constructive criticism could lead to the strengthening of institutions and democracy as well as the national foreign policy.

An MPA from NWFP, Riffat Akbar Swati, said her party would try to solve social and economic problems faced by the people by following the norms and values of democracy.