PDP president Mehbooba Mufti welcomed Gulrez into the party fold along with his hundreds of supporters at her official Gupkar residence, a party release said.
Gulrez said the "pro-people agenda" of PDP and its performance in government and in opposition had influenced him to join the party.
Gulrez said Sopore, once an economically vibrant area, has been the worst victim of the turbulent times with the result the area has been pushed to backwardness in all the fields.
Gulrez allged that the area has been "systematically wronged, exploited and the youth have been worst sufferers.