KARACHI, Aug 1: The Pakistan People's Party, emerging out of the merger of the Sherpao and Patriots factions of the PPP, on Sunday announced to continue playing its positive role within and outside the parliament with an aim of strengthening democratic institutions in the country.

Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal, chairman of the newly-registered PPP, addressed a public meeting on Sharea Faisal on Sunday and declared that the party would contest the upcoming local government elections at every level throughout the country.

He said that the new PPP had been formed to accomplish the mission of its founder chairman, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. "We have decided to mobilize our workers in all four provinces before the next local government elections. For the purpose, the central leadership is on a nationwide tour to nominate provincial office-bearers and organize the party at grassroots level," he said.

Mr Rao pointed out that the government had already embarked upon implementing welfare projects for common man and been taking steps against unemployment, illiteracy, and lawlessness.

He was of the view that the country was no more in isolation now whereas democratic institutions were functional. The defence minister said that the government had, at this moment, no intention to send Pakistani troops to Iraq.

President Musharraf, he added, was holding consultations with his colleagues in this regard and his decision would be in the best interest of the nation, said Mr Rao.

Describing the recent suicide attack on the life of prime minister-designate Shaukat Aziz as 'a cowardly act', he said that the PPP fully supported all measures being taken by President Musharraf against terrorism. He reaffirmed the party's continued support to the president's policy.

Speaking on the occasion, the PPP President, Aftab Sherpao, who is Minister for Water and Power, declared that the party leadership and workers could lay down their lives but they could never resort to earn a bad name for the party of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

He asked those "claiming to be the heirs of the late Bhutto" that why had they abandoned the original title of PPP for the sake of taking part in elections.

"Now, the party with a true spirit of serving the poor, peasants and workers has been revived and got itself registered again... in its fold are all the colleagues who had suffered the hardships of imprisonment during Gen Zia's rule after the PPP government was toppled... and who never compromised on principles... and never surrendered before any dictator."

Mr Sherpao said that his party was supporting Gen Musharraf because he had given a programme to the country and honoured his commitment of reviving democratic institutions. He also praised President Musharraf for adopting a bold policy following the 9/11 tragedy by joining the war against terrorism.

The PPP chief said that the attempts on the lives of Gen Musharraf and Mr Shaukat Aziz had not demoralized the two dignitaries, rather, the attacks had reinforced their determination to eliminate terrorists and terrorism.

On this occasion, Mr Sherpao nominated office-bearers of the party's Sindh chapter, saying that the set-up would run the party affairs till the completion of the process of the party's streamlining at grassroots level.

Federal Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, who is Secretary General of the party, said: "Bhuttoism is the name of a philosophy and phenomenon which is reflected in the PPP's programme."

He assured party workers that their interests would be safeguarded as they were real assets of the party. Referring to the challenges being faced by the country, he said the government was striving to steer the country out of darkness and rid it from the obsolete system. Pakistan would be put on the road of progress, he added.

Federal Minister for Petroleum Naurez Shakoor, who is President of PPP Punjab, deplored that in the past, poor people, as well as party workers, used to be kept away from the party leadership.

However, he added, this practice was being done away with. The party leadership would make all efforts to come up to the expectations of every citizen, he said.

Sindh Minister Sardar Manzoor Khan Panhwar, who has been nominated as PPP Sindh chief, welcomed the central leadership to Sindh and expressed his confidence that with dedication and sincere efforts, the party would be able to deliver goods to people and prove that its leaders were the true heirs to the late Bhutto.

Extending full support to Gen Musharraf's policies, Mr Panhwar said that the president had saved Pakistan from being turned into another Afghanistan or Iraq. MNA Azhar Ahmad, and MPAs Mir Mehboob Bijarani, Mir Naseer Khan Khoso, Ms Bano Saghir and Manzoor Hussain Shah were among others who addressed the public meeting.

SINDH SET-UP: The PPP Sindh office-bearers as nominated by the central leadership are: Sardar Manzoor Khan Panhwar (President), Syed Manzoor Hussain and Mir Naseer Khan Khoso (Vice-Presidents), Mir Mehboob Bijarani (Secretary General), Abdul Razzaq Mehar (Deputy Secretary General) and Bano Saghir (Women Wing President).