PML-N's Saifuddin Khan Khosa resigns from National Assembly, party

He resigned after developing differences over political matters with his father, senior PML-N leader Zulfiqar Khosa.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Sardar Saifuddin Khan Khosa, a Member National Assembly and a Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) ticket holder has resigned from his seat, NA-173, and the party after apparently developing differences with his father regarding the recent PP-243 elections.

In his official resignation, he said that it was an honour for him to be part of the assembly which brought an end to a dictator’s rule, passed important constitutional amendments in the history of the constitution of Pakistan and enacted various important laws.

Khosa added that he was resigning due to personal reasons.

His resignation has been sent to party chairman Nawaz Sharif in Lahore and to Chaudary Nisar, the leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, and a senior leader of PML-N.

However, family sources say the real reason for his resignation seems to be differences that he developed with his father, Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa, and a Senior leader of PML (N).

Saifuddin Khosa had wanted a party ticket for his wife in PP-243 by-elections held on May 7. However, Saifuddin’s father instead opted to grant the ticket to his eldest son Sardar Hassamuddin Khan Khosa.

Upset, Saifuddin had openly supported Hassamuddin’s opponent.

Zulfiqar Khosa had won the by-elections on PP-243 in January 2009. However, after successfully contesting the recent Senate elections, Zulfiqar Khosa resigned from his Punjab assembly seat, vacating PP-243.

As fate would have it, the Acting Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, Justice Shakirullah Jaan had suspended results of PP-243 in which, according to unofficial results, Sardar Hassamuddin Khosa had taken the lead.

The result had been suspended on the application of seven presiding officers who had complained of rigging, theft of ballot papers and death threats by PML-N workers and supporters of Sardar Hassamuddin Khosa during the yesterday by elections.

Source say that senior party leader and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is currently trying to patch up differences and for Saifuddin to overturn his decision to resign.