GUJRAT: Differences have cropped up in the Nawabzada family over the issue of contesting next general election from NA-104 as veteran politician and ex-chairman of the district council, Muzaffar Ali Khan, has opposed the candidature of his brother Ghazanfar Ali Gul, who has already launched a mass-contact campaign in the constituency.

In a statement issued here, Muzaffar Ali Khan, also a former MPA, said that Ghazanfar Gul had launched a “solo flight” without being permitted by the family elders to contest 2018 poll. The family had yet to decide the candidature issue, he added.

He said that keeping in view the overall trend of present-day politics, Mr Gul should avoid contesting the next polls and let the younger generation of the Nawabzada family to join the electoral arena.

He said Mr Gul was against the family’s youth who had joined the PML-N along with their elders against his wishes.

Responding to the statement of his brother, Mr Gul said addressing a public gathering held in his support at Tanda Markaz that one of the family elders, Nawabzada Mazhar, had already allowed him (Gul) to launch the campaign as he wanted to defeat his political rivals, the Chaudhrys of PML-Q.

He claimed that he enjoyed full backing of some strong political groups in the constituency. He alleged that these groups had been disappointed with the performance of those members of the Nawabzada family who had been at the helm of affairs recently.

He said as he had been waging a political struggle for the past three decades in the streets of Gujrat, it was his right to contest next elections. He added that after he was denied ticket by the PPP for 2013 election, he did not contest the poll to avid rift in the family.

He also criticised the performance of his elder brother Mazhar Ali Khan, who got elected to the National Assembly in 2013 poll on PML-N ticket without naming him. “When I was MNA of the then ruling party (PPP), I had brought the then prime minister, chief minister and governor to my constituency to secure maximum benefits for the people of this area.”

In comparison, he deplored that during the last five years none of such top government functionaries visited NA-104.

Ahead of the 2013 elections, the Nawabzada family had switched over to the PML-N after breaking their decades-long association with the PPP that had joined hands with their arch rivals, the Chaudharys of PML-Q at that time. However, Mr Gul, a former MNA and advisor to the prime minister, who had been contesting elections from 1990 to 2008 did not leave the PPP then despite offer from Sharif brothers to join the PML-N. However, he quit the PPP around six months ago.

Mr Gul said he was ready to accept his nephew MPA Nawabzada Haider Mehdi, as a candidate for PP-108, the constituency (falling under NA-104 ) from where the latter had won the last election.

According to local analysts, Mr Gul’s chances to run a successful campaign in the NA-104 for the next poll would largely depend on his ability to sort out his differences with his elder brother Muzaffar Ali and nephews -- Tahirul Mulk, an advisor to the Punjab chief minister and MPA Haider Mehdi.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2017