Khosa is expected to be appointed as the Punjab governor

ISLAMABAD: To succeed the murdered governor of the Punjab, Pakistan’s President Zardari is set to appoint close aide Latif Khosa, said officials, another step in resolving a weeklong political crisis.

A senior government official said, President Asif Ali Zardari is expected to name Khosa, a former attorney general, on Saturday from Karachi. “Mr Khosa is most likely to be appointed as Punjab governor.” Other top officials confirmed the appointment was expected.

“I will accept whatever the decision of my leadership,” said Khosa, also he said on Saturday that Zardari had called him for a meeting in Karachi.

If appointed as expected, Khosa will succeed Salman Taseer, the outspoken governor of the central province of Punjab, who was gunned down by one of his bodyguards in Islamabad on Tuesday for supporting changes in a controversial blasphemy law.

Punjab is the most populated province in Pakistan and its political nerve center so the choice of who will replace Taseer is crucial for Zardari.

(News Editor- Naushin Fatima Khan)