LAHORE - The PML-N is not worried about Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa’s tirade on the leadership as it believes the elderly politician and ace leader of the party would soon be back on track, quitting the war path against the party leaders.
Some senior party leaders have become active to lower the temperature on the part of Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa. These leaders will, however, seek directions from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after his return from the foreign visit, on how to address reservations of the elderly party figure who has also served as the Punjab governor.
Well-placed sources in the party reveal Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan, who is believed to be close to Sardar Sahib, in a contact, have discussed the Khosa episode in addition to talking matters relating to the appointment of the chief election commissioner, expansion in the Punjab cabinet and security matters. The sources say the party leadership is not issuing any show-cause notice or charge-sheet to Zulfiqar Khosa or his son, Dost Muhammad Khosa, over what they said before the media about the party affairs and the Sharifs.
Khosa, while talking to media persons, had wished that he should be given a show-cause notice by the party following which he would make disclosures about the emerging friction in the party due to the autocratic attitudes of the Sharifs and their policy of favouristism. The octogenarian Sardar Sahib had also told the media about scores of the parliamentarians and workers who had contacted him to seek his assistance to save the party from being hijacked by a group of Sharifs and their chums.
Sources say the statement and behaviour of Khosa has not been taken in good taste in the party ranks and a sort of resentment has been expressed by some senior party leaders on the same. Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid had exhorted the elder leader of the party not to play the politics of his son who was denied ticket by the party in the last election.
The PML-N sources have ruled out formation of any forward bloc or group in the party under Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa though he himself has dispelled the impression to this effect. And the party at this stage is pursuing the policy of not responding to what Khosa said as it may put him to limelight and force him to become more ferocious against the party. The sources said though the party is not ignoring Khosa’s claim about the party men in touch with him, it is monitoring those who might be with him.
Given the fact that those who had been close to Khosa in the party are now satisfactorily performing in the party and government, reposing confidence in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the party ranks feel bleak chances of Khosa mustering much support for any ‘revolt’. A circle in the party takes Khosa’s episode as part of the game PTI is spearheading against the government, but this impression is quite foggy at the moment. In the party quarters the main reason for the current fury of Khosa is being traced from the fact that Legharis, the traditional rivals of Khosas, are getting upper hand. Jamal Leghari is being tipped as Punjab Minister in the next lot.
The recent meeting of Sardar Sahib with former PML-N Sindh President Syed Ghous Ali Shah who is another disgruntled element in the N-League has raised the alarm.
Both the leaders had joined hands to protect the party while new entrants in the Party from Sindh like Liaqat Ali Jatoi, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Mumtaz Bhutto (who has left the N-League) also have serious reservations against the party leadership vis-à-vis Sindh politics. The sources say the party is taking time at the moment and maintaining silence to see which way the cat jumps in the time to come. And what line of action is taken would be decided by the PM only in case the situation became serious, they add.
On the other hand, political observers do not overrule Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa’s act without any purpose as he has a big say in South Punjab politics, particularly D.G.Khan.
They say on the basis of reports that the PTI is working on some Sindh leaders in various parties, including PML-N, to convince them to join its Larkana rally on November 21.
The situation may be encouraging for Khosa’s ‘Save party move’ in case some known persons of the N-League join the PTI to convey of message of their resentment besides boosting the protesting party on their demands against the government.