LAHORE – With Latif Khosa’s appointment as the Punjab governor, the PML-N has compromised on the first point in its 10-point charter of demands, which proposed an immediate ouster of corrupt people from government
Khosa has been twice removed from senior positions on corruption charges. According to a senior PML-N leader, the compromise aimed at give breathing space to the PPP-PML-N reconciliatory committees. “We do not want a bumpy start and wish to bring the committees in motion as soon as possible to wriggle the country out of impending turmoil,” he added. He said the reconciliatory committee would hold its first consultative meeting in a couple of days to set out the strategy to cooperate with PPP’s five-member committee and confirmed that it would hush up the issue in the larger national interest. Sources privy to the development told Pakistan Today that PML-N top aces, especially parliamentarians, raised eyebrows over Khosa’s appointment, but PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif forbade them from issuing any statement.
“Nawaz was of the view that before framing out an agenda of reforms, he was sure that PPP-led government would flout some points of the agenda and with this anticipation, it was premeditated that PML-N would show flexibility and would not demand a hundred percent implementation of the agenda,” the sources said. PML-N senior leader Ahsan Iqbal said the appointment reflected true mindset of the government, but the PML-N did not bring the concern to fore. He said the governor had ceremonial powers and could do nothing to harm the government’s functionality and decision-making process. Ahsan said if the Punjab governor discharged his duties within the constitutional ambit, nobody would raise objections.
After the PPP came to power and delayed the reinstatement of sacked judges, Khosa switched sides and joined Asif Ali Zardari’s side. Due to this blatant and shameless side-changing, Khosa even faced the wrath of fellow lawyers at several places.
