ISLAMABAD, April 27: There is no plan to merge the Pakistan People's Party-Patriots with the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, says Defence minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal. Mr Iqbal, who is the chairman of the Patriots group said in a statement issued here on Tuesday that the party had its own manifesto, identity and constitution and it would not merge with any other party.

He said the party wanted to keep its "independent and distinctive" position in the country's political system and, therefore, there should be no speculations about its merger with any other political party.

Referring to the party's recent merger with the PPP (Sherpao group), he said legal requirements of the merger between the two parties had already been completed. He said the merger of the Patriots and the PPP-Sherpao would be notified officially very soon.