DUSHANBE, October 21, 2008, Asia-Plus  - Leadership of the officially recognized Democratic Party (DPT), run by Masoud Sobirov, intends to file suit against Rahmatullo Valiyev, deputy leader of the Mahmadruzi Iskandarov-led wing of the party.

Khaydullo Abdulloyev, the deputy head of the Sobirov-run DPT, remarked this, while speaking to reporters today. 

“Rahmatullo Valiyev continues naming him deputy leader of the party, while he was dismissed in 2006 already,” said Abdulloyev.   

As it had been reported earlier, the Iskandarov-run wing handed over the party’s seal and registration certificate to Masoud Sobirov, the leader of the wing, which was officially recognized by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as the official Democratic Party, on May 17.  A court in Dushanbe’s Shohmansour district on May 14 ruled to give the Iskandarov-run wing one month to give its property to the party’s wing led by Masoud Sobirov.  

 The Democratic Party split after Sobirov formed a separate faction in April 2006, which the Ministry of Justice recognized as the official Democratic Party in October 2006.  

Besides, there are also supporters of Saidjaffar Ismonov.  The party congress, held by them on January 14, 2007, charged Masoud Sobirov with inaction and removed him.  They elected Ismonov as leader of the party.  But the Ministry of Justice noted that the January 14 congress was held in violation of the party''s charter and Tajik law and denied a request by Saidjaffar Ismonov to be recognized as the leader of the Democratic Party.