GUJRAT: The oldest political family of Gujrat, the Nawabzadas belonging to the PML-N are apparently facing a revolt-like situation from their next generation over the question of family’s politics.

Though the family has been facing challenges within its ranks for the last couple of years; however, the rift was exposed at a workers’ convention in the Nawabzada House three days ago where PML-N leader retired Captain Safdar and other party lawmakers were present. Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gull, the former adviser to the prime minister, despite being present at the convention was kept away from the dice by the host, his nephew Tahirul Mulk, the district president of PML-N. Moreover, there were no pictures of three family elders on the publicity material displayed at the venue.

Gull’s presence was also eclipsed in the local media the next day, which made the head of Nawabzada family, former MNA Nawabzada Mazhar Ali, to come to the fore and issue a brief statement to declare that he and his brothers, Nawabzada Muzaffar Ali and Ghazanfar Ali Gull, were united and Mr Gull, who had contested the July 2018 polls from NA-68 and ex-MPA Nawabzada Haider Mehdi (PP-28) will contest the next general elections. He added that all three elders of the family were agreed upon the said policy but some elements were trying to create a wrong impression through the media statements and publicity, which was not true. He denied the reports that the family elders had transferred the political leadership to anyone as no one was authorised to take political decisions other than the elders.

Nawabzada Mazhar Ali said the candidates for the next local government polls would be fielded after consultations whereas his grandson, Nawabzada Zafar Ali, had also completed his education and he would soon be active in politics.

On the other hand, former MPA Haider Mehdi, in a separate statement, said the young generation of Nawabzada family was united and there was no ambiguity on the matter that he was a candidate from family for NA-68 whereas his maternal cousin, Tahirul Mulk, would contest for PP-28.

Sources said Mr Gull had been against the intervention of his maternal nephew Tahirul Mulk in the political affairs of the family for the last few years due to differences with him. Mr Mulk had managed to get support of some cousins against Mr Gull and now they all revolted against the family elders by refusing to accept their decision, creating confusion among the supporters.

Nawabzada Mazhar said the matter of awarding tickets would be decided by the party leadership that would consider the recommendations of the family elders since they had joined the PML-N as a family rather than as individuals in 2012.

The analysts opine that such a deep rift in the oldest and traditional political family of Gujrat may cause a serious blow to the Nawabzadas’ position in the local politics against their arch political rivals, the Chaudhrys of the PML-Q, in the upcoming local government polls and the general election.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2020