Zubair Gull has been dropped from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) UK chapter as part of the party’s organisational shakeup ordered and approved by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Gull, a longtime loyalist of the Sharif family and staunch supporter of party activities in London, served as PML-N’s leader in the UK for nearly 20 years before he was dumped by party supremo as part of a hierarchy shuffle.
According to GeoTV, the now-former PML-N UK leader hasn’t been adjusted among party ranks in Pakistan whereas several people who worked with the Sharifs in London have been adjusted in various capacities in Punjab and Islamabad.
Ashan Dar, a businessman by profession, has replaced Gull as PML-N UK president under the new party setup announced by Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The former finance minister has also announced the appointment of Dr Ashraf Chohan and Rashid Hashmi as chairman and secretary general, respectively.
Gull has been given the post of coordinator UK, a ceremonial role showing compared to his previous position. Dar and Chohan are successful businessmen in the UK.
Who is Zubair Gull?
Zubair Gull and his brother Ijaz Gull have been with the Sharifs since 2007, when the brothers moved to the UK from Saudi Arabia following their exile. Ijaz Gull was allegedly seriously wounded in the assault by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter outside Hassan Nawaz’s office.
Zubair Gull visited Pakistan on five different occasions since 2007 during Nawaz’s stint in power, but was only able to meet the former prime minister twice. In 2018, he contested Senate elections on party tickets after giving up his British nationality.
He fled to Dubai during the Imran Khan government and became embroiled in legal battles to re-enter the UK to join his family. GeoTV quoted a PML-N spokesperson as saying that Gull’s services were much appreciated by the party but PML-N UK chapter needed fresh blood to continue their political activities.
