Zartaj Gul: breaking barriers in clan politics in southern Punjab

PTI lawmaker aims to promote education in tribal areas

MULTAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) elected MNA Zartaj Gul is among the four candidates from the party who won all four National Assembly seats in Dera Ghazi Khan District. In a patriarchal society, Gul has defeated two important clans namely the Legharis and the Khosas in the recent general elections held on July 25.

In NA-191, Gul won the election by receiving 79,817 votes, while Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari stood second with 54,548 votes. Sardar Dost Mohammad Khan Khosa managed to get 31,697 votes and secured third position.

Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari is a former federal minister and son of former president of Pakistan Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Legari. On the other hand, Sardar Dost Mohammad Khan Khosa is the son of former governor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa.



Gul attracted the attention of everyone after defeating influential chiefs in the district. However, in the general elections of 2013, Hafiz Abul Kareem won from NA-172 while Zartaj Gul was the runner-up.

The 34-year-old Zartaj Gul, who has toppled the prominent Leghari family in Dera Ghazi Khan, hails from South-Waziristan. Belonging to the Wazir Tribe, she received her early education in her native town Bannu and Miran Shah. Born into a middle class family with no political background, she came to Lahore with her parents after completing her early education.

She graduated in Textile Designing from National College of Arts, Lahore. In 2005, Gul joined Insaf Student Forum (ISF) as a volunteer and emerged as a youth president for ISF Waziristan. She has also worked as a volunteer for Shaukat Khanum Hospital.

The designer-cum-politician married Akhwand Humayun Raza in 2010 and then moved to Dera Ghazi Khan. She started working as a member for ISF and then as a member of PTI’s core committee and central deputy information secretary. “The high ideals of PTI inspired me to join this party and I decided to come forward as a political worker for a greater cause for Pakistan,” Zartaj Gul said while speaking to The Express Tribune.

“I only have the moral support of my family. None of my family members have been involved in politics,” She added. She claimed that without any financial backing against the tribal leaders of Dera Ghazi Khan, she won because of the intentions of PTI leader Imran Khan.

She maintained, “People do not want corrupt politicians; this time voters have chosen those representatives who belong from among them.” She aims to work for the betterment of underprivileged people both in South Punjab and in her native South Waziristan.

Gul said that the people have rejected the Sardars and the Legharis who have been ruling over them since the past three generations.

She pointed out that the youth, mostly students from Ghazi Medical College, supported her in her political campaigns. “It gives me immense pleasure and a sense of privilege when I see the young urban populace and the educated youth, who want to run your political campaign on your behalf,” she exclaimed.



“I am an inspiration for many young girls who want to join politics and work for their country,” she elaborated. Gul said that she would work for women empowerment and will ensure that women get equal health, education and employment facilities. She said, “Education is our top priority because no change can come without proper education.”

The PTI lawmaker said, “My husband is a supporter of PTI and we both work voluntarily for the party.”

She told The Express Tribune that fighting against influential leaders is not an easy task and she faced rude behavior and security issues during her campaign in rural areas. “People do not like women coming out of their homes and going door-to-door in tribal areas but when you have a mission, you are not afraid of anyone,” she remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2018.