Gul’s growing differences with PML-N raise concerns in Gujrat

Veteran politician Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gul, once regarded as one of the prominent political figures of Gujrat, appears to be increasingly

GUJRAT:  Veteran politician Nawabzada Ghazanfar Ali Gul, once regarded as one of the prominent political figures of Gujrat, appears to be increasingly at odds with his own party’s local leadership, with his recent public comments triggering a strong reaction among PML-N workers and local leaders.

Gul’s recent remarks over the transfer of Gujrat DPO have particularly stirred controversy within the party. The transfer had become a political issue after a PML-N youth wing coordinator faced what the party’s local leadership described as a baseless case, prompting criticism of the police administration.

In a statement, Gul appeared to question the political significance attached to the DPO’s transfer, saying that the officer had subsequently been posted as CPO Multan. He used the development to take a swipe at those who had linked the transfer to the complaint against the officer, effectively suggesting that the posting was a promotion rather than a consequence of political pressure.
Posts carrying a similar critical tone were also shared from Gul’s official social media page, further intensifying the reaction within PML-N circles in Gujrat.

The comments have reportedly drawn criticism from the party’s district leadership, workers and other local figures, who view public criticism of the party’s own political camp at a time of increasing electoral activity as potentially damaging to organisational unity.
Gul, a veteran of Gujrat politics, has spent decades in national and provincial politics. He remained associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party for several decades before joining the PML-N in 2017. He contested the 2018 general election on the PML-N ticket from the then NA-68 Gujrat-I constituency.

For a politician with such a long political career, however, the more significant question is not merely over one police posting but the growing perception of distance between him and the party’s local organisation.
Political observers say disagreements within a party are normal, particularly among senior politicians with long political careers. But public differences with the party leadership and workers can become politically costly when they continue to surface through statements and social media, particularly as parties begin preparing for the next electoral contest.

Gul’s case also reflects a broader dilemma faced by several veteran politicians: whether to use their political influence to challenge decisions of their own party or to protect organisational unity even when they disagree with local leaders.
The political careers of senior figures such as Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Javed Hashmi show how long-standing politicians can reach difficult stages of their careers where individual political decisions can significantly influence how their later years are remembered.

For Gujrat, the question is whether Gul’s latest confrontation with his party’s local camp will remain an isolated disagreement or develop into a wider political divide.
With electoral politics gradually gaining momentum, continued public differences could provide opponents with an opportunity to exploit divisions within the PML-N’s local ranks.