Zubair Gul renounces UK nationality for Senate seat

LONDON: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President for UK Zubair Gul has applied to renounce British nationality after party leadership decided to give him ticket for the Senate from Punjab.

A lawyer here confirmed that Zubar Gul applied at the Home Office to renounce his British nationality a week ago after he was told that he will be given the ticket. The decision was made public on Wednesday through a news release. It said that Senate tickets from Punjab will be awarded to the following: General Seats: Farooq Khan, Asif Kirmani, Rana Maqbool, Haroon Akhtar, Shaheen Butt, Zubair Gul and Covering: Musaddaq Malik; and Women: Nusat Amir and Sadia Abbasi.

A source at the Home Office said that Zubair Gul’s application to renounce British nationality has been received and is “under process”. However, Zubair Gul has submitted confirmation from his lawyer to his party’s high command confirming that he is renouncing British nationality. Around five years ago, Muhamamd Sarwar from Glasgow also renounced his British nationality to become the governor of Punjab. He is now part of PTI.

Zubair Gul has been a staunch supporter of Nawaz Sharif for nearly two decades. When Nawaz Sharif came to London after being exiled by Pervez Musharraf, Zubair Gul launched a long and arduous campaign for him and remained by side of Nawaz Sharif throughout.

He was given a portfolio in the overseas ministry to look after complaints of overseas Pakistanis. Due to his political activism he suffered business losses in London and he had to close his business to devote time for campaign for the restoration of democracy.