News Analysis |
The veteran leader and senator of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has finally joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Chairman Imran Khan along with Zulfiqar Khosa made the announcement at the former’s residence in Lahore on June 1st, 2018. PTI in a tweet said: “Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa joins PTI after meeting with Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan. #PTI”
Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa joins PTI after meeting with Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan. #PTI pic.twitter.com/NxhatHrV0t
— PTI (@PTIofficial) June 1, 2018
PTI which had to face heavy criticism on the inclusion of Farooq Bandiyal in the party has, however, refused to accept Khosa’s son Dost Muhammad Khosa, who has served as chief minister of Punjab, into the party due to the ‘Sapna case’.
Prior to Khosa’s inclusion in PTI, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and senior leader Faryal Talpur approached the Khosa family asking them to join the party following their differences with PML-N.
Read more: Incumbent and potential lawmakers continue to ditch PML-N for PTI
Khosa’s ‘anti-Sharif’ Movement in 2014
In a press conference in 2014, Zulfiqar Khosa announced to oust Sharif brothers from the Muslim League. These brothers had seriously damaged the party, said Khosa. “We will restore the genuine PML by uniting party workers and cleansing the influence of the Sharif brothers from the party,” he told a press conference in 2014.
PML-N lawmaker from Khanewal, Raza Hayat Harraj; MNA from Gujranwala Rana Umer Nazir Khan; and MPA’s Abdur Razzaq Khan Niazi and Raheela Yahya Munawar have also parted ways with party and joined PTI.
Senator Khosa also said that “Sharif brothers had neglected old party activists and inducted PML-Q leaders and retired Gen Musharraf’s cronies into the party. He said he would not disclose the names of party members supporting him as the Sharif brothers would stop development projects in their areas”. He, however, made it clear at that time that he would continue to be a part of the PML-N.
“Step-down Nawaz Sharif,” Khosa Demanded in 2016
Former governor of Punjab had categorically stated that “there is no justification for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to stay in office after the leaked Panama Papers exposed his family’s links to offshore companies”.
Khosa accused Mr. Sharif and members of his family of being involved in “corruption and money laundering. Panama Papers had exposed the corruption of Sharif family and the prime minister should now step down because he had lost the confidence of people”, he demanded.
Khosa also supported the demand of opposition parties for the formation of an independent and impartial judicial commission to investigate the links of Mr. Sharif and his family to offshore companies and the alleged money laundering by them.
Read more: Turncoats continue to desert PML-N
Electable Joining PTI?
Imran Khan has defended the induction of electable in his party during a talk show. Imran has said that it was his vision which appealed people to join PTI. ‘I, therefore, welcome such people in my party,’ said Imran Khan.
Defected lawmakers of the Pakistan Muslim League-N from South Punjab have also joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The lawmakers from South Punjab parted ways with the ruling party and announced the launch of a mass movement — Junoobi Punjab Suba Mahaaz — to make southern Punjab a separate province. PTI responded to the demand favorably and added the agenda of the creation of a new province in its first 100-days plans.
Prior to Khosa’s inclusion in PTI, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and senior leader Faryal Talpur approached the Khosa family asking them to join the party following their differences with PML-N.
Two other PML-N lawmakers: Dr. Nisar Ahmad Jutt and Tahir Bashir Cheema, who had won on PML-N’s ticket from NA-81 (Faisalabad) and NA-190 (Bahawalnagar) in 2013 respectively have also joined PTI. PML-N lawmaker from Khanewal, Raza Hayat Harraj; MNA from Gujranwala Rana Umer Nazir Khan; and MPA’s Abdur Razzaq Khan Niazi and Raheela Yahya Munawar have also parted ways with party and joined PTI.
Read more: PML-N is Urban-centric: Check your facts Mr. Chief Minister
MPA’s Sardar Qaisar Abbas Magsi from Layyah, Muhammad Athar Maqbool, Muhammad Afzal Sahi, Malik Muhammad Akram and MNA Col Ghulam Rasool Sahi have also joined PTI and expressed their confidence in the leadership and manifesto of PTI.
The upcoming general elections will be held on 25 July. It is important to see how PTI manages its electable and wins to form government in Punjab or in the Centre. The challenge for the leadership of PTI is that how do they distribute tickets for the general elections. Electable are seasonal birds and if they do not get what they intend to, it is likely that they will quit the party. Therefore, induction of electable is both a welcome move for PTI and a challenge for the leadership to maintain organization and momentum of the movement.