In a significant political development, former Member of National Assembly (MNA) Shah Ji Gul Afridi has announced the merger of his political party Tehreek e Islahat Pakistan Party into Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Tehreek e Islahat Pakistan Party was founded on August 14, 2021, with the primary objective of initiating comprehensive reforms in the tribal districts and extending the same to the entire country.

Shah Ji Gul, however, now decided to merge his political party in PML-N after holding meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week.

According to Shah Ji Gul’s political secretary, a group of prominent former provincial assembly lawmakers, including Shah Ji Gul Afridi's brother Provincial Minister Taj Muhammad Afridi, former provincial assembly member Bilawal Afridi, Shafiq Afridi, Tehsil Chairman Jamrud Syed Nawab Afridi, Tehsil Chairman Lundi Kotal, and their entire group, would officially join the PML-N.

In light of the development, a significant meeting has been scheduled at Afridi's residence in Shah Kas Jamrud in a couple of days.

The meeting is expected to be attended by several federal ministers, as well as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K- P) President and Advisor to PM Engineer Amir Maqam.

The gathering aims to solidify the merger and discuss future plans and strategies for the alliance between Tehreek e Islahat Pakistan Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Political analysts viewed the merger as a crucial step to countering the PTI popularity and a step forward towards the development of the tribal district.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2023.