LAHORE  - Expressing solidarity with PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the PPP Secretary General Latif Khosa on Thursday said his party was ready to provide legal aid to the PTI leader vis-à-vis the Supreme Court which has initiated contempt proceedings against Imran Khan.  “The contempt notice by the apex court to Imran Khan is tantamount to putting curbs on freedom of expression of the elected representatives”, he said while addressing a Press conference at his office in Lahore High Court.
Khosa was of the view that it was Constitutional right of every politician to criticise court decisions. He said PPP would provide legal aid to Imran Khan if he sought the same.  The PPP leader criticised the Supreme Court for changing schedule of the Presidential elections and termed it a unilateral decision. He said institutions should not overstep their jurisdiction.
To a question, he said that PPP supported the Lahore High Court Bar Association decision about sending of references against the SC judges for changing the election schedule.  Appreciating Fakhruddin G Ibrahim’s decision to resign from the office of CEC, Khosa demanded that other members of the Election Commission should also resign.
“Fakhruddin should now reveal all facts before the nation about the May 11 elections stating details of rigging in favour of the PML-N. He should also tell the nation who pressurised him and which institutions forced him to do the unconstitutional acts”, he remarked.  To a question, he said it would be unconstitutional to grant extension in service to the Chief Justice of Pakistan. “If the government wants to give 18- month extension to the Chief Justice, it would have to amend the Constitution by two-third majority of the National Assembly and the Senate”, he said.
Khosa also criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for what he called posting the loyalists on important Constitutional slots ignoring the diehard party workers.
He was referring to President-elect Mamnoon Hussain and Punjab Governor-designate, Ch Sarwar.