PPP's disgruntled Sardar Latif Khosa finds home in PTI

Disgruntled Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader and former Punjab governor Latif Khosa on Sunday joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Khosa, in a symbolic gesture, wrapped a PTI flag around his shoulders as he announced his decision during a press conference at his residence on Sunday.
The veteran lawyer expressed his deliberate choice, expressing his willingness to be mocked as a "lunatic" if serving one's country was equated with lunacy. He added that one mustn't fear speaking the truth, emphasising that life, death, honour, respect, and sustenance rest in God’s hands.

“Why should anyone be scared? These institutions belong to us. This is our army. Their limits are defined within the Constitution. They are paid through the taxes given by the Pakistani people — be it army generals, judges or the bureaucracy. Their real owners are the people who pay taxes,” he said.He said that complications arise when institutions overstep their designated mandates.

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Addressing electoral matters, Khosa commended Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa for dispelling speculation around the February 8 polls.
Simultaneously, he expressed a desire for the CJP to have mandated returning officers (ROs) and district returning officers (DROs) be from the judiciary, a sentiment reflective of his commitment to transparent and unbiased election processes.

He also condemned the arrest of PTI's senior lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat outside the Lahore High Court, terming it a violation of the sanctuary of peace and justice.

He questioned the justification for such detentions and raised concerns about the potential misuse of power if officials with a propensity for such actions were appointed as ROs and DROs.

“Can you detain him for 30 days over this? That he has the potential, the capacity to create a law and order situation?” he asked. He mentioned that if such officials were appointed as ROs and DROs, they'd be willing to go to great lengths to achieve "favourable" outcomes. He further alleged that the Lahore deputy commissioner was a relative of the “chairtaker” Punjab chief minister. He said that Marwat’s detention order said that he had the “potential to create a law-and-order situation”.

Khosa also invoked historical events, notably the tragic fates of figures like Liaquat Ali Khan and PPP founder Zulfikar Bhutto.He extended an invitation for a new beginning, emphasising the imperative of burying hatred and embracing a commitment to upholding the Constitution as a pathway to national progress.

Read 'Imran the only PTI chairman,' Khosa refutes reports of new nomination

Meanwhile, the news of Khosa's shift in political allegiance was met with a warm welcome from PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and other senior leaders. In a social media post, Khan expressed delight in welcoming Khosa to PTI, lauding him for choosing a party that has remained steadfast in upholding democratic values despite facing setbacks.

It is pertinent to note that in September, the PPP took action against Khosa by suspending his party membership and removing him from its central executive committee (CEC). Nayyar Bukhari, PPP Secretary General, explained that the decision came after Khosa failed to respond to a show-cause notice issued by the party.

Khosa received the show-cause notice from PPP for "defending/pleading and representing the head of another political party without prior approval from the party leadership."

Although not explicitly naming anyone, the notice was clearly directed at Imran Khan, whom Khosa was representing in various legal cases.
Earlier in the same month, Khosa had received a show-cause notice for making a statement in favour of Imran.