History repeats itself. When on July 5, 1979, the former prime minister and founder of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was hanged by the then military ruler, General Zia-ul-Haq, his political legacy was transferred to his daughter, Banazir Bhutto, who was merely 26.
A shy, completely inexperienced, and disinterested in politics, Benazir took the reins of the party at a time when various party titans bowed to the ruthless military dictatorship, and left the daughter of their once “beloved” leader in the midst of storm. But the time passed, and that inexperienced and shy girl turned out to be the real threat to dictatorship.
The two-time prime minister, who earlier wanted to be a career diplomat, has left her son in same circumstances in which her father left her.
Just reached 19, Bilawal Zardari, who is now known as Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has been nominated as successor of the slain former prime minister. In her will written by herself in English on October 16, 2007, just two days before her return to Pakistan after an eight-year of self-exile, she had nominated her husband, Asif Zardari, but he withdrew in favour of his eldest son.
“In my eyes, no one is better than him who can be the representative of the federation. Therefore, I withdraw in his favour”, Mr Zardari trying to fight back his tears told the members of central executive committee of the party which met after the Soyem of Ms Bhutto in Naudero.
As soon as Mr. Zardari proposed the name of Bilawal as the party chairman, all 80 members of the committee endorsed him by raising their hands.
“I thank to the members of the party’s central executive committee for reposing their confidence in me as the chairman of Pakistan People’s Party. Like my mother, I will stand for federation of the country. My mother always said that democracy is the best revenge”, an apparently composed Bilawal told the first press conference of his life.
No doubt, a tough task awaits Bilawal. Boys his age think of sports, romance, and travel. But he has a totally different way to think. He is the son of the Daughter of East, who sacrificed her life for democracy in Pakistan. He will have to carry the mission of his “Mama”.
“Too much burden has been put on the shoulder of this young man (Bilawal, who has no political experience and exposure,” Shamim-ur-Rehman, a Karachi-based senior political analyst said.
Terming it an expected decision, Shamim thinks that the reins of the party will remain in the hands of Asif Zardari.
“Asif Zardari will call shots from the back. He doesn’t want to come on front not only because of his controversial personality, but also because of his nature,” Shamim opines.
The party has formed a seven-member committee, which will run the party affairs till Bilawal, who has just turned 19, completes his education. Bilawal is currently studying at Oxford University, where his mother, and grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, had studied. The PPP sources say that till completion of his education, Asif Zardari will run the party affairs as head of the seven-member committee.
A senior PPP leader told weekly Pulse on condition of anonymity that in case of victory in general elections, Makdhoom Amin Fahim, the acting PPP chairman, or Asif Zardari will be nominated for the post of prime minister.
According to Constitution of Pakistan, no person below 25 years can contest the election.
“Zardari will play the role of king-maker now. It’s true that some other senior party leaders, especially acting chairman, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who stood alongside Ms Bhutto in all testing times, have the capability and required political experience to lead the party, but unfortunately, in South Asia, people believe in dynasties. The same is here, the PPP supporters want their leader only from Bhutto family,” Shamim said.
He, however, apprehends that Bilawal’s appointment as party chairman may lead to division within party leaders and workers in long run.
“He (Bilawal) is not directly related to Bhutto. He is Zardari, though he is son of Benazir Bhutto. In my opinion, there will be no problem for him or his father in near future, but in long run, the followers of Bhutto family will raise this issue,” he said and added “secondly, whoever develops differences with party leadership, he will raise the slogan of long live ÊBhutto, and join the legal heirs of Bhutto family,” he said pointing to Fatima Bhutto, the daughter of Ms Bhutto’s slain brother, Murtaza Bhutto, who was killed in a police encounter in Karachi on September 20, 1996.
“Fatima is more energetic and charismatic than Bilawal. She is the actual heir of Bhutto family, and equipped with the political experience and background,” Shamim contended.
Fatima had developed serious differences with her aunt, Ms Bhutto, after her father Mir Murtaza Bhutto was killed in an encounter just a few steps away from his residence when she was the country’s prime minister. “There are chances, though mild, of reconciliation between Zardari and Bhutto family. If it happens, then there is possibility of return of leadership to Bhutto family, otherwise, the party may be divided into different groups,” Shamim thought.
However, he says the main PPP will remain to be that led by Mr Zardari and his son.
“The PPP workers cannot forget the strong criticism on the part of Fatima and her mother (Ghinwa Bhutto, the chairperson of her own faction of PPP), therefore a majority of them will stand loyal to Ms Bhutto’s PPP. But a sizable number of workers who love the Bhutto clout, may turn to Fatima,” he observed.
A senior PPP leader partially agrees with Shamim. “I agree that Bilawal doesn’t directly belong to Bhutto clout, and that could be a disadvantage for him compared to Fatima. This is also true that the PPP supporters want a Bhutto to lead the party, but they know the fact too that there are limited options for them,” he said and added “they will not accept Fatima as party chairperson in spite of the fact she is a Bhutto, because of her Êhighly negative attitude towards her aunt”.
He, however, admits that Bhuttos can appear as contender for the party leadership. “No doubt the people of Pakistan love Bhutto. A strong group within the PPP wants reconciliation between Bhuttos and Zardaris so that the leadership remains with Bhutto family, but unfortunately it is very difficult at least for the moment. Fatima or her brother (Murtaza’s only son, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, 17) can exploit these sentiments in future,” he maintained.
“Because of Bhutto factor, we put too much pressure on Sanam Bhutto (the younger sister of Ms Bhutto) to accept the party leadership, but she outrightly refused to do that. After her refusal, we opted for Bilawal,” he added.
Mumtaz Bhutto, the cousin of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, has already thrown the first stone in water saying that the party leadership be handed over to the Bhutto family. At the moment, Mumtaz’s “demand” seems to be ignored by party workers, but what future has stocked for the world’s youngest chairman of a mainstream political party, is a matter to be seen. Shamim thinks that it is high time to institutionalize the party leadership. “Like every democratic person, this is my desire that the PPP should have institutionalized the party leadership in line with developed democracies. But unfortunately, it is very difficult if not impossible at the moment. People in South Asia believe in dynasties and family politics”, he said.
