Switching sides: Saifuddin Khosa’s split major blow to PML-N in South Punjab

Joins PPP citing differences with party over South Punjab issue.

LAHORE:

In a move sure to shake up the political landscape of South Punjab, Saifuddin Khosa, son of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart and Senior Adviser to the Punjab Chief Minister, Senator Zulfiqar Khan Khosa, switched loyalties to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Wednesday.

Saifuddin cited serious reservations with the PML-N as his reason for switching parties.

The move is considered a setback not only for the PML-N in South Punjab but also the Khosa tribe.

MNA Khosa, while announcing his intention to join the PPP, explained that he is a proponent of the South Punjab province. But, he maintained, his party (PML-N) had done little to aid its developnment, making it a complex issue instead.

He vowed to raise his voice for the formation of a South Punjab province from the PPP platform, employing effective methods.

The elder Zulfiqar Khan Khosa’s two other sons are MPAs, former Punjab chief minister Sardar Dost Muhammad Khan Khosa and Sardar Hissamuddin Khan Khosa, who both still stand with PML-N.

According to PML-N officials who wished to remain anonymous, the split of Saifuddin is not only a major blow for the party in South Punjab, but it also presents an embarrassing situation for his father, as he is head of the Khosa tribe.

The same officials also shared that the Raja family of Jhelum joined PPP last week, which puts a question mark on the performance of PML-N in Central Punjab.



Background development

In May 2012, by-election differences erupted within the Khosa family. Zulfiqar was elevated to Senator and he vacated seat PP 243, which is also known as the ring seat of DG Khan. Saif wanted to field his son-in-law on this seat in the by-election, but his father preferred his eldest son Hissamudin to take over, and he won the seat. Then, violating the party rules, Zulfiqar expelled Saif from his property.

Saif and PPP leader Ayatullah Durrani are close relatives as Saif’s daughter is married to Durrani’s son.

Durrani has played a vital role in convincing Saif Khosa to join the PPP.

Since 1988, Saif contested his election from NA 173 and PP 243. Two seats, NA 173 and NA 171, fall in Khosa’s hometown Bahadar Garh, where the Khosa tribe supports Zulfiqar in aiding his sons’ victories in the election. Additionally, PP 243 is a Mohajir dominated seat, who typically vote for PML-N.

Saif urged his father to hand over two seats – NA 173 and PP 243— to him otherwise, he said, he would quit the party.

According to sources, PML-N’s senior leader from Rawalpindi division Chaudhry Tanveer is in talks with PPP to join the party but PML-N is cajoling him to stay.

However Tanveer’s nephew, sitting PML-N’s MPA Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal, while talking with The Express Tribune ruled out such news, insisting that they stand with PML-N. He added that differences persist but should be solved within the party.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2013.