ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Friday suspended the membership of its disgruntled leader, Sardar Latif Khosa, from the party’s central executive committee (CEC) for pursuing a case of a political rival, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan.

According to a statement issued by the PPP media office, Mr Khosa’s membership was suspended by the party’s secretary general Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari.

It said the PPP had served a show-cause notice to Mr Khosa a week ago, but despite the expiry of the notice period, he did not respond. “Due to this, his CEC membership has been suspended,” it added.

Moreover, Mr Bokhari has instructed all provincial presidents of the PPP to submit recommendations for candidates for the National and provincial assemblies to the office of

Disgruntled leader was served show-cause for representing PTI chairman

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari within 15 days.

On Sept 14, the PPP had served a show-cause notice to Mr Khosa for “defending/pleading and representing a head of another political party without prior approval of [the PPP] leadership”.

The PPP took this action after Mr Khosa failed to attend the PPP’s CEC meeting held on Sept 14 in Lahore, despite being invited. He had been asked to respond to the notice within seven days, or face potential disciplinary action, including expulsion from the party.

The show-cause notice had said: “You being member of central executive committee of Pakistan are defending/pleading/representing a head of another political party without prior approval of leadership in corruption cases in which he has been convicted and in a case against him under Official Secret Act, while delivering a speech in lawyers function you criticised the state policy regarding cipher. You are hereby through this show-cause notice asked to explain why disciplinary action be not taken against you for working against the party policy, the reply should reach the undersigned within seven days failing [which] disciplinary action will [be] taken against you by withdrawing your membership of Pakistan Peoples Party.”

Mr Khosa was not available for comment, but according to a media report, he claimed that no one could expel him from the PPP.

Khurram Latif Khosa, son of Mr Khosa, told Dawn that under the Practitioner Act, his father was not bound to represent any person in a court of law. “Under the Constitution of the country and the Practitioner Act, it is our right to pursue cases for anyone,” he added.

Mr Khurram termed the PPP’s notice “a rotten piece of paper and has no legal sanctity” and said it depended on Mr Khosa to decide which party he would like to join.

Citing some previous examples, he said Mr Khosa had already taken cases of leaders of PPP’s opposing parties, such as Javed Hashmi, Manzoor Watto and Saifur Rehman.

Two central leaders of the party, lawyers Mr Khosa and Aitzaz Ahsan, have been at odds with the party leadership due to their proximity to and support for former prime minister Mr Khan during his legal challenges.

Published in Dawn, September 23th, 2023