PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and President PPP and Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao have agreed to contest the next general elections jointly. However Sherpao said that his faction of PPP would finally decide about the merger with PML after consultations with his colleagues.
Chaudhry Shujaat met Aftab Sherpao at his residence here on Thursday and exchanged on various issues of national importance. Minister of State for Education Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli and Muslim League Senator Dilawar Abbas were also present in the meeting, which continued for one hour. During the meeting they discussed the matter regarding merger of People's Party Patriot with the PML.
This was the fifth meeting between the two leaders during last one month. So far seven PPP members have joined the PML while more members of the Punjab Assembly have stated preparation to join the PML. Interior Minister also indicated that he would call a meeting of his party and issue regarding the merger that would be decided with consensus.
However, in this meeting they decided to contest the 2007 elections jointly.
Aftab Khan Sherpao clarified that Rao Sikandar Iqbal and Faisal Saleh Hayat did not meet Benazir Bhutto in Dubai on February 21 as reported in a section of the Press. The news about meeting with Benazir was baseless as Defence Minister was in Okara on that day.