Top slot: Premier backs Khosa for Punjab governor

Former attorney general has emerged as the lead candidate.

ISLAMABAD: Sardar Latif Khosa, a loyalist of President Asif Zardari, has virtually jumped over the last hurdle in his ‘lucky run’ to the influential slot of governor Punjab by managing to win the support of the prime minister. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had so far been opposing Khosa’s appointment as the new constitutional head of the country’s most populous province because of his past.

Khosa was removed from the post of adviser to the prime minister on information technology amid allegations of corruption.

Earlier similar accusations caused his removal from the slot of attorney general of Pakistan.

Officials said Gilani had agreed to Khosa’s appointment as the successor of the slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer after a long meeting with him here on Sunday afternoon.

Taseer was gunned down by an elite police commando in his security detail in an upscale Islamabad market.

At least one official in Gilani’s secretariat told The Express Tribune that the premier had sent a summary to the president, proposing the appointment of Khosa.

But at least two other concerned officials said they were not aware of any such development. A spokesperson for Gilani refused to comment.

Gilani told reporters at a news conference that consultations were underway to decide who should step into the shoes of Taseer to spearhead what has been a PPP battleground with rival Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz in Punjab.

Khosa himself said he would accept the position if the party decided in his favour.

But one of his sons in Lahore said Khosa had been informed by the top leadership of the PPP about his nomination as new governor Punjab.

Khosa was in a close race with Law Minister Babar Awan for the post that is very crucial for the PPP’s political future in Punjab.

Observers however said Khosa is not an appropriate choice for the slot because of his weak political credentials and stained track record.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2011.