GUJRAT: The oldest political dynasty of Gujrat region, the Nawabzadas, has announced former MNA Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gull as its political head and authorised him to handle all future political and social affairs of the family.

The decision was announced through a statement issued on Tuesday by former head of the family and veteran politician, Nawabzada Mazhar Ali Khan, who is also a former PML-N MNA.

“I have consulted with Nawabzada Muzaffar Ali, a former Gujrat district council chairman and ex-MPA, over the future political matters of the family and we have decided to appoint Ghazanfar Ali Gull as the next head of the Nawabzada family since we both are unable to continue with active politics due to health reasons,” the statement read, adding Mr Gull was capable enough to look after the political affairs of the family.

Mr Gull would always have the support of both his elder brothers in all his future endeavours, it further said.

The Nawabzada family has been facing the challenge of internal rifts at the hands of some of its young members.

PML-N Gujrat district President Tahirul Mulk, the maternal nephew of Mr Gull, has not been on talking terms with his uncle for 10 years, as per family sources. These differences widened recently when Mr Mulk organised a party workers convention in Ajnala, the native village of the Nawabzadas in November, where none of the family elders were invited.

The family has been associated with the PML-N since 2012 after parting ways with the PPP due to the latter’s alliance with the Chaudhrys of the PML-Q. The Nawabzadas and the PML-Q have been traditional political rivals for 60 years.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2022