Re: pakistani political world’s reaction to PPP’s new co chairmen
The Dawn’s Editorial, which also has rather positive comments about it. There goes all that preaching these journalists have been doing about democracy over the last one year. :rolleyes:
PPP’s new leader
THE unfortunate reality of South Asia´s dynastic politics was in evidence on Sunday as Bilawal Zardari, the 19-year-old son of the slain Pakistan People’s Party leader Benazir Bhutto, was approved as chairman by the central executive committee. But not before he, along with his sisters, decided to take on the Bhutto name. He will now be called Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Pakistan does not have a long democratic tradition but even democratic India is not immune from the magical attraction of political dynasties. Sadly, both here and across the border these dynasties are also haunted by tragedies. After the PPP leader’s assassination last week, world attention seemed riveted to Naudero where the party’s CEC was scheduled to meet with a daunting agenda. The issue of succession had to be decided without delay if the PPP were not to go adrift at a time when it was required to chart its political course. There was also the need to decide whether to participate in next month’s polls. On the eve of the meeting, Asif Zardari had told BBC that his spouse had left a will and all decisions would be informed by this document. At the eagerly-awaited news conference, Makhdoom Amin Faheem told journalists that Ms Bhutto wanted Asif Zardari to take over the party but he had decided to hand over the mantle to his son. In turn Bilawal said he would take up the reins of the party after completing his education. He is in his first year at Oxford.
This effectively puts the party in co-chairman Asif Zardari’s hands. He seemed aware of the challenges he faces. He was very quick to try and isolate the fringe elements in Sindh, who were seeking to use Ms Bhutto’s killing to fan anti-Punjab sentiments, saying he’d been pained by ´Pakistan na khapay´ (Don’t want Pakistan) slogans at her graveside. He reminded his audience that PPP was a party which believed in the federation. His appeal for calm included the advice to supporters to seek their revenge at the ballot box – confirming that the party will take part in elections, which it wants should be held on schedule. In a deft move aimed at keeping unity in the party ranks, Makhdoom Amin Faheem was presented as the prime ministerial candidate. For the moment, most of the decisions taken by a traumatised PPP appear politically prudent. The party wishes to try and turn the tragedy of losing its leader into an electoral victory by continuing to have a Bhutto at the helm even if only as a figurehead for now and garnering the sympathy vote. It has been accused of using the ´Sindh card´ in the past, so its response to parochial slogans will appeal to a much broader support base. Now it is up to the government to ensure that it responds with assurances of free, fair and impartial elections and by conducting a transparent probe into Ms Bhutto’s assassination.