LAHORE: Gulzar House, the historic Lahore residence of late Senator Gulzar Ahmed Khan, a close associate of former prime minister and former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto, has once again emerged as a centre of PPP political activity after nearly two decades.
Located on Mehmood Ali Kasuri Road in Gulberg, the residence served as one of the party’s most important political hubs between 1986 and 1999, alongside the Bhutto family residence at Clifton in Karachi. During that period, Benazir Bhutto frequently stayed at Gulzar House during her visits to Lahore, and several major political decisions were taken there.
Following her return to Pakistan in 1986, Benazir Bhutto visited Gulzar House after addressing a historic public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan. The residence later became a focal point for party strategy, including deliberations related to the 1988 general elections, the 1990 general elections, the 1991 Senate elections and the PPP’s political campaign leading up to the 1993 polls. Party workers often referred to it as a “lucky house” because of its association with the PPP’s political successes.
However, after Benazir Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999, Gulzar House gradually ceased to function as a major centre of party activities.The residence has now returned to prominence as the PPP prepares to expand its political outreach in Lahore and gear up for the expected local government elections. A large gathering of party leaders and workers, led by PPP Lahore President Faisal Mir, was recently held at Gulzar House and hosted by former senator Ammar Ahmed Khan, Sehar Gulzar and Azain Gulzar Khan. Addressing a press conference at the venue, Faisal Mir announced that the PPP would field candidates in all union councils of Lahore in the upcoming local government elections. He also announced that the party would hold a major public rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on July 25 to mark the birthday of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Mir said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would address the rally. He was joined at the press conference by Senator Ammar Ahmed Khan, PPP Lahore General Secretary Dr Ayesha Shaukat and PPP Lahore Vice President AzainGulzar.
Describing the reopening of Gulzar House for party activities as a significant development, Mir said it reflected growing momentum within the PPP in Lahore. He also criticised the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, rejecting its claims of transforming Lahore into one of the country’s most developed cities and alleging that several areas still lacked basic civic facilities. Senator Ammar Ahmed Khan, who recently rejoined the PPP, expressed confidence that Bilawal would one day become prime minister, just as Benazir Bhutto had twice held the office.
AzainGulzar said he would follow the legacy of his grandfather and work for the strengthening of the party in Lahore. Dr Ayesha Shaukat described the PPP as a united political family and said the party would support all public welfare-oriented budget measures. Former senator Ammar Ahmed Khan later told The News that the Gulzar family had always maintained close ties with the PPP and would continue to welcome and support the party leadership.
