More parliamentarians are expected to join the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) following in the footsteps of Saifuddin Khosa, MNA Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) who joined the PPP on Wednesday.
Saifuddin’s departure from PML-N has caused ripples in the political landscape of Dera Ghazi Khan.
Parliamentarians who are in direct contact with Khosa include MPA Amjad Khosa and former MPA PML-N Mohsin Khosa, sources have told The Express Tribune. Shibli Ghauri, District President PPP confirmed contact between the parliamentarians.
Amjad Khosa joined PML-N only recently, following differences between Zulfiqar Khosa and the Punjab government. He had joined PML-N with a list of demands which have not yet been met.
He voiced his protest almost three times in this regard during meetings with Nawaz Sharif. He had also publicly voiced his disappointment over commitments to him not being fulfilled.
Chances are high that Amjad and Mohsin Khosa will join the PPP due to their respective differences with PML-N. They have reportedly been in continuous contact with Saifuddin in order to negotiate with the party.
Anonymous sources from both the PPP and PML-N have told The Express Tribune that both political parties are now aiming for the support of the Legharis who have taken a back seat in politics due to the political circumstances in South Punjab, more specifically in Dera Ghazi Khan.
The Legharis and Khosas have always been political rivals in the politics of the area.
Owais and Jamal Leghari have both joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf and Jafar Leghari is currently representing PML-Q. Owais did not resign from his seat in the National Assembly after joining PTI, which is in clear contradiction of his party’s policy.
If the negotiations between the Legharis and Khosas according to the old seat adjustment are successful, then a great fraction of the Leghari tribe would be poised to join PML-N.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2013.