A day after he was stripped of the powers of minister in-charge of information technology for alleged corruption, prime minister’s adviser on information technology Sardar Latif Khosa resigned from his post in protest. But President Asif Zardari immediately directed the “veteran loyalist” of the PPP to continue working as adviser.
On Monday, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had taken back from Khosa the title and powers of the minister in-charge of IT after a parliamentary panel accused him of corruption and of having misbehaved with one of its members.
Individuals close to Latif Khosa said he was upset with the premier’s decision and met Zardari on Tuesday to present his resignation.
But Zardari, according to an official handout issued by his media office, did not accept the resignation and instead directed Khosa to continue officiating as the adviser to the prime minister.
These dramatic moves took place within days of the National Assembly standing committee on information technology levelling allegations of corruption against Khosa.
Corruption charges have been haunting Khosa from the time he was appointed as attorney general by the current government. He was removed from the post in line with a Supreme Court directive after he was found guilty of taking bribes in a case.
But instead of penalising him for alleged corruption, the government chose to appoint him as an adviser to the prime minister on IT with additional powers of minister in-charge.
According to the statement issued by the presidency, Zardari said both the government and the party recognised Khosa’s contribution to the revival of the democracy and would never abandon him in difficult times.
Meanwhile, PPP officials said Gilani had also urged Khosa to not relinquish his office and to continue working.
Insiders said Khosa had developed serious differences with law minister Babar Awan regarding several issues confronting the government and the party.
According to the rules, the president accepts or rejects resignations of cabinet members on the advice of the prime minister.
It is, however, not known whether advice was sought or given in Khosa’s case.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2010.
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