Pakistan Peoples Party's new Governor Punjab, Sardar Muhammad Latif Khosa can not fit in the shoes of late Salman Taseer as a strong man in Punjab and become a source of inspiration for helpless party workers. Taseer spoke his mind on blasphemy law until he got assassinated by his official bodyguard on January 4.
He was known for his outspoken character in the party. It was his political elegance that kept on appeasing the party workers, disgusted by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz government in the province. The workers were seldom accommodated in their day to day affairs due to the hostile political and administrative situation during the last three years. Still they were full of high spirit due to a man like Salman Taseer, challenging PML-N authority in a befitting manner.
The political circles have consensus on the point that Khosa cannot follow the footstep of Taseer because of his non-political background. One PPP leader, requesting anonymity, said the party workers were quite furious during oath-taking ceremony when Khosa hugged Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif a day earlier. Also, they added, the workers were amazed when they found Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sana Ullah entering Governor's House. The workers were fully charged and raised party slogans emotionally.
However, PPP Punjab secretary general, Sami Ullah Khan said Governor Khosa is toeing the party's line by extending reconciliatory posture towards the PML-N leadership. Otherwise, he said, he would be equally fiery as and when required by the partly leadership. He admitted that no one can fill the gap of late Taseer as a strong Governor Punjab.
Another party leader said Governor Khosa is behaving in accordance with the demand of present political circumstances. According to him, late Taseer would have been doing so had he been alive. It is high time to unite and not divide the people, he said adding that PML-N leadership is also promoting this impression at present.
Chaudhry Akram from the PML-Q said the political standing of Governor Khosa does not match with the political posture of Aitzaz Ahsan or Raza Rabbani. However, he pointed out that the PPP could be strengthened in Southern Punjab in case Governor Khosa diverts all his energies in making party popular there.