DUSHANBE, March 25, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Rustam Emomali has suspended membership in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and will be withdrawn from the membership of the PDP central executive committee.

Usmon Solehov, head of the PDP public relations department, told Asia-Plus today that Rustam Emomali who is currently an official with the Customs Service has suspended membership in the PDP and will be withdrawn from the membership of the PDP central executive committee because the customs service is a law enforcement agency and under the country’s legislation employees of law enforcement agencies may not be members of political parties.

Besides, Rustam Emomali should vacate his seat in the Dushanbe legislature (Majlis) after being appointed to a senior position within the State Customs Service, because under the country’s law on elections to local councils, employees of law enforcement agencies may not be members of legislatures.

We will recall that Rustam Emomali, the eldest son of President Emomali Rahmon, was appointed to head the Customs Service department to combat smuggling and violation of customs regulations, replacing Amirkhon Ibodov who retired.  He was given the rank of the major of customs service.

A Tajik National University graduate, Rustam Emomali, who is 25, previously served as head of the small and medium-sized enterprise development support department within the State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management.

He was elected a member of the Dushanbe city council in 2010.  In 2009, Rustam Emomali was elected a deputy chairman of the League of Tajik Youth.  Rustam Emomali is also deputy head of Tajikistan’s Football Federation.  In the recent past, he played soccer for Tajikistan''s Istiqlol club.

Rustam Emomali is married with one daughter.