PPP's Latif Khosa announces joining PTI on 'Imran Khan's wish'

• Khosa says he took this decision only in interest of democracy.
  
• He hopes that the politics of hatred would end.
• Ex-governor says Constitution has solution to all problems.

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) disgruntled leader Sardar Latif Khosa on Sunday said he was joining the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) "on the wish" of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan.

“I have decided this only in the interest of the country and democracy,” he said in a statement adding that he has decided to raise his voice vigorously for the truth. 

Later, Khosa announced his decision at a press conference in Lahore, wherein the seasoned politician hoped that the politics of hatred would end.

He said the country’s Constitution is a civil agreement that has the characteristics of all welfare states.

Khosa said the state and the country suffered whenever the Constitution was deviated from.

“The motherland can become prosperous, if we follow the Constitution. The Constitution has a solution for everything if it is implemented in its true spirit,” he said.

He said the idea of Pakistan was given by a lawyer, Barrister Muhammed Iqbal, and it was completed by Barrister Muhammed Ali Jinnah.

The seasoned politician said the duty of the armed forces is not only to protect the borders but also to assist the state if required during an emergency situation such as floods or in providing security for holding elections.

“I have dedicated my services to PTI. I am free to join party of my choosing,” Khosa said adding that he would not talk about what he lost or gained in the PPP.

Khosa also called for ending “oppression” of the PTI founder, who has been incarcerated since August this year in several cases.

He said the country’s 250 million people are looking towards judiciary to ensure a level playing field for all political parties in the run up to general elections on February 8 next year.

The development comes at a time when PTI is facing exodus with leaders including Pervez Khattak, Asad Umar, Shireen Mazar and several others, have already parted ways with the former prime minister following May 9 incidents triggered by the arrest of Khan in corruption case.

Khosa, also a member of Imran Khan’s legal team, on December 4 said the PTI founder had invited him to join the PTI.

On September 22, PPP had suspended its senior leader and lawyer Khosa's party membership over his failure to reply to the show-cause notice issued against him for violating the party policy.

According to the party spokesperson, Secretary General Nayyar Bokhari had also suspended his membership in the Central Executive Committee (CEC). 

On September 14, PPP had issued a notice to Khosa for defending the head of another political party — the PTI — without approval, asking why action should not be taken against him.

"You being a member of Central Executive Committee of Pakistan [Peoples Party] 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," the notice had said.

The notice also mentioned that the PPP leader criticised the state policy on the cipher issue during the event, adding that Khosa's party membership would be terminated in case of no reply within the said time period.