GUJRAT: The ruling PML-N has finally compensated the Nawabzada family by appointing one of its members, Tahirul Mulk, as an adviser to Punjab chief minister, since the family had earlier been ignored by the party while making a choice for Gujrat district council top slot.

Mr Mulk is a maternal nephew of PML-N MNA Nawabzada Mazhar Ali Khan and a cousin of MPA Nawabzada Haider Mehdi.

According to a notification issued by the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), the CM “is pleased to appoint Tahirul Mulk as his adviser on social welfare and Baitul Maal with immediate effect”.

Mulk had earlier been elected Ajnala Union Council chairman and was among aspirants for the ruling party ticket for the Gujrat district council top slot. However, the PML-N had awarded the ticket to Tanveer Kotla, brother of another party MNA, Abid Raza Kotla. Before being appointed advisor to the chief minister, Mr Mulk had resigned as the UC chairman. According to him, the resignation was tendered a few weeks ago and has now been accepted by Election Commission.

The Nawabzadas had joined the PML-N after severing their four-decade-old ties with the PPP.

According to PML-N sources, the party leadership wanted to compensate the Nawabzadas as it felt that after being ignored for district council top slot the political clout of the family’s lawmakers in their constituencies -- NA-104 and PP-104 -- had been weakening. They said the leadership was also under pressure from within the party that the Nawabzadas should be compensated.

Though Nawabzada family has been in the parliamentary politics for a century and is considered as arch rival of the Chaudharys of PML-Q in Gujrat politics, none of its lawmakers could ever become a federal or provincial minister.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2017