LAHORE/ DERA GHAZI KHAN - Following in the footsteps of his father Zulfiqar Khosa, former Punjab chief minister Dost Muhammad Khosa on Friday resigned from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Khosa sent his resignation to the PML-N Punjab office but will remain a member of the Punjab Assembly. According to sources, Dost Muhammad has excused himself from meeting the top leadership of the PML-N. Talking to a private TV channel, Dost Khosa was very critical of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and termed him the main reason for the Khosa family’s decision of leaving PML-N.
“One man is holding on to several portfolios and refuses to listen even to his party leaders. Is this how the government is run. It’s time Nawaz Sharif intervenes in the matter?” On Thursday, a PML-N meeting chaired by Nawaz Sharif in Murree discussed the resignation of Dost Muhammad’s father Zulfiqar Khosa from the party. It is expected that Nawaz Sharif will meet with Zulfiqar Khosa when he returns to Lahore. It merits mentioning here that Dost Muhammad Khosa had differences with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Khosa’s stature in the party was damaged badly after his alleged involvement in the Sapna case. Zulfiqar Khosa, father of Dost Muhammad Khosa, had also resigned from the party on Thursday owing to reservations over the party’s attitude. He complained that he and his son were left alone by the party in hard times.
However, sources have reported there are possibilities of a meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Zulfiqar Khosa in the coming days in which Nawaz will try to mend fences with the Khosa family. Meanwhile, INP reported that Khosa’s sons Dost Muhammad and Saifuddin had had meetings with important Pakistan People’s Party leaders, including Faryal Talpur. According to INP sources, the PPP had offered the Khosa family complete discretion about their choice of candidates for the constituencies in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur. The sources further said that Zulfiqar Khosa would retain his independent status even if he permanently quits the PML-N. They said Saifuddin Khosa was inclined towards the PPP. However, the Khosa family would not join the PTI owing to its political rivalry with Legharis. The sources said Khosa brothers had asked their father not to meet any PML-N leaders until the outcome of their contacts with other political leaders.