Appeasement: Nawaz to reconcile with angry Khosa

Party chief to meet senator today on the demand of South Punjab party workers.

LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N’s) senior leaders have succeeded in convincing disgruntled party member Senator Zulfiqar Khan Khosa to overcome his reservations with the PML-N.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and PML-N MNA Rana Tanveer arrived at Khosa’s residence on Friday night and conveyed a reconciliatory message from party chief Nawaz Sharif.

Sources privy to the development said that Khosa has abandoned his protest and both him and Nawaz are to meet on Saturday, when they will discuss the political scenario in South Punjab. According Khosa’s close aides, both leaders might address a press conference after the meeting.

Sources close to Nisar said that the party’s leadership, which had earlier been reluctant to appease Khosa, were pressed by party workers in south Punjab to take a more conciliatory approach.

Three weeks ago, Khosa wrote a letter titled “Ruler of Punjab” to provincial Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, strongly criticising his governance. Khosa also blamed the provincial government for being involved in a campaign to slander him and his family, particularly in connection with his son Dost Muhammad Khosa who is named in a murder case of his former wife Sapna.

At the end of the letter, Khosa demanded that action be taken against senior party leaders such as Senator Pervez Rashid, Khawaja Saad Rafique and others considered close to Shahbaz.

According to sources, the Sharifs gave Khosa a cold shoulder in response to his letter. Khosa then softened his stance, stating in the media that ‘his doors were always open’. While Nawaz’s aides have responded in kind, the Punjab chief minister continues to maintain a distance.

Sources added that since Dost Muhammad Khosa is currently in Dubai, Zulfiqar will include his two other sons – MNA Saifuddin Khan Khosa and MPA Hassamuddin Khan Khosa – in his meeting with Nawaz.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2012.