News
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Aitzaz likely to replace Khosa as PPP general secyBy Kashif Hussain
LAHORE: The veteran Pakistan People’s Party leader, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, is likely to take charge of PPP secretary general in a couple of months, replacing the incumbent Sardar Latif Khoosa.
Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, a seasoned democrat and famous lawyer with an appreciative political candidature have been deemed as the most suitable candidate for the office. An aide to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto (late) as well as a proactive leader of Judges Restoration Movement, Aitzaz held the fertility to be the secretary general of PPP.
Sources told Daily Times that party’s high command has decided in principle to replace incumbent Sardar Latif Khosa with Aitzaz as the former had failed to reactivate the party and reunite the angry leaders and workers and ‘Jiyalas’ of the party. The party is expecting Aitzaz to heal the damage incurred especially during general elections on May 11 by reuniting the disgruntled groups in PPP.
Party sources informed that Latif Khosa had gained applauds as law advisor among PPP sections but his failure to address political split, particularly in his own Punjab province was proving a hurdle in prolonging his charge as general secretary.
They mentioned that during the tenure, Khosa had not achieved a single significant target hence the party’s think-tank had slipped to change the incumbent secretary general.
Responding to queries about the former secretary general Jahangir Badar, who was also given consideration for the office again, they stated that he had been given significant importance but the idea could not succeed owing to his son’s allegedly business relations with Touqeer Sadiq who is under trail these days.
Sources underscored that the party leadership had redefined the ways to regain its lost status at NA level and at the provinces as well. Therefore, the leadership is determined to engage more public and go into masses again by maneuvering changes in main party offices, where more public faces are likely to be given space.
Aitzaz had been given priority over Latif khosa after being non-controversial among party workers and general public support he enjoys. They added the real political show would be staged in Lahore, hence a Punjabi face required to deal political affairs.
Aitzaz had numerous edges over other candidates, they said, adding on one hand, he had gained much appreciation for his role amid Judges’ Restoration Movement, in which he reshaped his image and became applauded political and popular social figure.
Similarly, being a democrat and having strong connections with the rest of political parties, he could be the most appropriate secretary general in coming days wherein, according to the PPP workers, the political contest had to be sharpened.
They opined the situation in the country no longer similar to 90’s as a third political party namely Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had marked its success in KPK besides winning the second largest vote during general elections 2013. So any further lethargy in order to revisit and reshape the political strategy may rebound on PPP, sources said. They added that in any case the party must reconstruct its lost stature, otherwise the nation might forget the sacrifices and great contributions rendered by PPP founding leader Zulifqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir for democracy.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk