Warraich, Khosa directed to reorganise Punjab PPP
Leadership remains unchanged for now, Khosa puts forward son’s name for next election.
LAHORE:
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in its meeting on Tuesday had decided in principle not to change the PPP Punjab president Imtiaz Sardar Warraich. The PPP headquarters have also directed both Warriach and Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa to reorganise the party in Punjab and to prepare a list of potential candidates for the next general election, sources told The Express Tribune.
Sources added that Khosa, who had been specifically handed the task of reorganising the party in southern Punjab, had put forward the name of his son, Shahbaz Latif Khosa, as the potential candidate for the seat of NA-173. Khosa had also recommended the induction of Maqsood Khan Leghari, cousin of the late Farooq Khan Leghari, in the PPP.
Sources said Federal Minister for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had been tipped to take over the PPP Punjab presidency. However, Warraich had recently held two successful rallies, from Lahore to Faisalabad, and a public meeting in Rawalpindi that underscored his popularity and saved him from removal.Sources said PPP general secretary Jahangir Badr would be replaced by former law minister Babar Awan.
The responsibility for the recent defeat of PPP’s candidate in NA-172 in the by-election had been placed on the local office bearers, they added. Khosa, reportedly, had made a commitment with Maqsood Leghari, whereby Leghari would support Khosa’s son when he stood for election in NA-173. In exchange, sources added, Khosa would push for Leghari’s induction into the PPP and on the ticket to contest election from NA-172.
Sources said PPP MNA Jamshed Dasti had categorically asked President Asif Zardari to keep Khosa away from party reorganisation in the Muzaffargarh district. Also, they said, Sardar Dost Muhammad Khan Mazari, the PPP MNA in Rajanpur district, had refused to meet Khosa. The MNAs are of the opinion that Leghari is not loyal to the PPP leadership.
They said that Khosa for the sake of his son’s political future had made a deal with someone who had never supported the PPP.
NA-173 falls in DG Khan and Kot Chutta. Three provincial seats of PP-242, PP-243 and PP-246 fall under the constituency. Khosa’s native village, Basti Jahan Khan, also falls under NA-173. PML-N’s Sirdar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa and the Leghari family hold equal sway in the constituency. Sources said Khosa is keen to induct Leghari into the PPP so that he can win voter support for his son’s bid for election.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2011.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in its meeting on Tuesday had decided in principle not to change the PPP Punjab president Imtiaz Sardar Warraich. The PPP headquarters have also directed both Warriach and Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa to reorganise the party in Punjab and to prepare a list of potential candidates for the next general election, sources told The Express Tribune.
Sources added that Khosa, who had been specifically handed the task of reorganising the party in southern Punjab, had put forward the name of his son, Shahbaz Latif Khosa, as the potential candidate for the seat of NA-173. Khosa had also recommended the induction of Maqsood Khan Leghari, cousin of the late Farooq Khan Leghari, in the PPP.
Sources said Federal Minister for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had been tipped to take over the PPP Punjab presidency. However, Warraich had recently held two successful rallies, from Lahore to Faisalabad, and a public meeting in Rawalpindi that underscored his popularity and saved him from removal.Sources said PPP general secretary Jahangir Badr would be replaced by former law minister Babar Awan.
The responsibility for the recent defeat of PPP’s candidate in NA-172 in the by-election had been placed on the local office bearers, they added. Khosa, reportedly, had made a commitment with Maqsood Leghari, whereby Leghari would support Khosa’s son when he stood for election in NA-173. In exchange, sources added, Khosa would push for Leghari’s induction into the PPP and on the ticket to contest election from NA-172.
Sources said PPP MNA Jamshed Dasti had categorically asked President Asif Zardari to keep Khosa away from party reorganisation in the Muzaffargarh district. Also, they said, Sardar Dost Muhammad Khan Mazari, the PPP MNA in Rajanpur district, had refused to meet Khosa. The MNAs are of the opinion that Leghari is not loyal to the PPP leadership.
They said that Khosa for the sake of his son’s political future had made a deal with someone who had never supported the PPP.
NA-173 falls in DG Khan and Kot Chutta. Three provincial seats of PP-242, PP-243 and PP-246 fall under the constituency. Khosa’s native village, Basti Jahan Khan, also falls under NA-173. PML-N’s Sirdar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa and the Leghari family hold equal sway in the constituency. Sources said Khosa is keen to induct Leghari into the PPP so that he can win voter support for his son’s bid for election.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2011.