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No headfirst jump into politics for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Under Jahangir Badar’s guidance, Bilawal will work with PPP leaders.
Under Jahangir Badar’s guidance, Bilawal will work with PPP leaders.
KARACHI:
President Asif Ali Zardari announced this week that his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will take up some “political responsibility” this September. But PPP leaders told The Express Tribune that Bilawal will not be jumping headfirst into politics and will first learn the workings of the party inside-out.
According to PPP Member of National Assembly (MNA) and the president’s media adviser Farahnaz Ispahani, while Bilawal is already familiar with the party structure and leadership, the new move will see him being involved with the party in an organised manner.
Ispahani said that PPP General Secretary Jahangir Badar will take Bilawal under his wing and he will be working with senior provincial leaders, such as current Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah.
“Bilawal has specifically expressed interest in the party’s youth wing, which was very dear to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto,” she said. “He will be looking into modernising the Peoples Youth Organisation, and bringing in new ideas, media technology etc through intellectual and practical exercises.”
Bilawal, who turns 23 this September, is two years away from being eligible to run for a provincial or national assembly seat. However, the PPP believes that the idea is not for Bilawal to jump into politics by contesting elections, but to spend time learning about the party.
“He is a keen learner,” said Ispahani. “He has spent time travelling here and meeting party leaders and members. He listens and he takes his time with making comments on issues.”
While Bilawal has attracted criticism for being the newest symbol of dynasty politics in the subcontinent, he garnered praise for his stance on the assassinations of former Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and former Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti.
Bilawal, who graduated from Oxford University last year, could emerge as PPP’s much-needed progressive voice, given what appears to be his interest in social issues and stance on minorities.
The timing of the announcement is worth noting. The PPP, like all other political parties, is looking at the 2013 elections. While it managed to win a large number of seats in the 2008 elections, observers noted that the party also won the sympathy vote in the wake of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. By working with the youth wing, Bilawal could possibly galvanise young voters and Bhutto family loyalists.
“He seems to have a natural talent for public speaking. It’s impossible to not have goose bumps when hearing him. In terms of sustaining the family legacy in Sindh, Bilawal has that natural appeal as Benazir’s son which Zardari can never have,” remarked analyst Mosharraf Zaidi.
While his late mother, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, faced opposition from the party’s old guard when she returned to Pakistan, Ispahani said this would not be an issue for Bilawal. “There is a great deal of love for the children,” she said. “Benazir’s house in Dubai always had PPP leaders visiting and the children know most of them very well. When he was voted as chairperson by the Central Executive Committee, it was done with the understanding that he would lead the party but would spend time learning and working for it.”
Bilawal’s sisters, Bakhtawar and Asifa, have also taken on public roles, but there appears to be no move yet to assign them political responsibilities. The three have met key foreign leaders with President Zardari. Bilawal will be leading a PPP delegation to China this summer before he starts working with the party in the fall.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2011.
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Reader Comments (41)
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Our very own Prince William. Oh wait, can’t compare a democratically elected party with a monarchy… What a shame that these politicians treat our country like their own family business and monarchies. But more so than them it’s us we have to blame for supporting these parties in one way or another (myself included in that). All major parties are run like monarchies, PPP, PML-N, PML-Q…Recommend
Stay in London.Recommend
All hail the crown princeRecommend
This is not the way the democracy work, in democracy no one can claim the heritage of any position.
This curse must be removed from any instituation of dmocracy if it is to be flourished.Recommend
Saaien Zardari .. ab kiy abachey ki jaan lo ge? leave the kid alone. give him a chance to see the world by himself. shoving the politics down his throat seems be extremely unfair with the boy. Recommend
ppp CEC elected bilawal as the chairman. so, noone shld object 2 it.like all of us, he z studying and learning and has a right 2 choose a profession,if he wants 2 pursue his career in politics then so be it. .good luck bilawal. Recommend
Jr. Zardari has more years on him than his dad, God save us!Recommend
“He seems to have a natural talent for public speaking. It’s impossible to not have goose bumps when hearing him…………” remarked analyst Mosharraf Zaidi. Oh please keep the grovelling to a minimum. (sic) Recommend
Pathetic is the nation that is destined to have only “made in the West” leaders….!Recommend
Bhuttos, Zardaris, Sharifs, Chaudrys ……. give Pakistan a break … for God’s sake. We’ll do much better without you. I’m 100% sure Edhi will make a much better government to run Pakistan than all you guys put together.Recommend
Mosharraf Zaidi gets goose bumps listening to Bilawal….i think he should try Hajmoola next time he is listening to Bilawal Zardari!Recommend
It should shame most of us that out of a nation of 200 million, there are only a handful of people you are willing to sacrifice just about anything for this land and people. As per common speculation, Zardari family has more money than they can every spend, so why destroy your life for the Pakistani people? Why not enjoy the millions….billions…? stupidity or an upbringing that taught him nothing else but sacrifice? Let’s stop speculating and start by committing the life of ourselves and our loved ones in the name of this nation… maybe we’ll be able to think from the correct perspective then. After all, we are all human.Recommend
bilawal bhutto will do some thing better inshALLAH for the poor people of this country, hope for the best. why you people spreading only negativity in the country, every one try to criticize.nobody think positivly. please start thinking positive in return nature also give you some thing positive.Recommend
Goals has been set by Party, now lets see , what they offer to to our leaders(MNA,MPA,politicians) to acheive this mandate,
a new era of corruption ia sbout to beginRecommend
Imran Khan FTW..Recommend
@MN:
Hatred seems the only motive in your comment
Like QA MA Jinnah graduate form Karachi!
Like Liaquat Ali gradiate form Lucknow
Like Khawaja nazim uddin graduate from Dhaka
Like shaheed suharwardy from Kolkota
Like Iskander Mirza Delhi
Like Ch mohammad Ali Lahore
Like Ayoub dictator he was intermediate
Like yahaya dictator he was intermediate
Like Zia dictator he was intermediate
Like Mush dictator he was intermediate or graduate of Quetta university as Zia established that
Like Taliban Khan graduate of Mianwali
Like Nawaz sharif from Lahore
I might have missed some names except PPP names, who all were reasonably educated except AZ who fits your criteriaRecommend
To Mr. Asif Ali and all the people who think likewise,
the nation has plunged herself in darkness by “thinking positively” and electing PPP thrice and so called Lions twice. How further would you like to worsen the situation? By the way, PM already has made the statement, “chehray budalnay say koifurq nai paray ga, ya koi film nahi”, so why does not he and you apply in case of Bilawal??
agreed with MN Recommend
kiddo, stay back in London and enjoy. Not worth your life at all.Recommend
Bilawal you are the hope of this country.Don’t get discouraged by comments of these half illiterate, Internet users, urban middle class crowd .They have no idea that you would come in power through the vote of people and not nominated as is done in a monarchy.If PPP wants you as their leader,no one should have any objection.These people have inherited hatred for PPP from their ancestors.They have little idea about the feelings of 70% of rural population.Without PPP this country can not survive.They would be shocked to see the results of the next elections,with their fav KHAN getting max 2 seats and Musharaf nil.Recommend
I was wondering that Zardari doesn’t give anything for free, therefore how much will it cost to Bilawal? Any Guess?Recommend
Bilawal for Prime-Minister!Recommend
hahahah what actually they mean is that “No headfirst jump into politics for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari” is basically that dont get hasty First learn all the basic concept of looting a robbing a whole nation and yet again get elected by a nation of emotional fools… sorry not nation its a CROWD..so thts the whole concept behind this news…PEACERecommend
Another Zardari??? God Save Pakistan!!!!!Recommend
Could you first learn to speak Urdu, dear Bilawal. I think the only phrase you know so far is “jiyaay Bhutto” — move beyond dynastic politics man! Get some advice from your cousin Fatima and only contest political office when you can do so on a platform of sincerity that goes beyond your name.Recommend
Why can’t …. ” I ” be the next leader in Pakistan or someone else like myself…..?
Out of 170 million bright and shinning minds….who have roots in Beautiful Pakistan…
What is so special about this …white washed….S. O….sorry… I mean Zardari…?Recommend
Oh….my my …..are we really totally drained out of ..” bright and shinning minds ” in our
So Beautiful Pakistan… That we have to call ” MaMa’s Boy the Billy” to save us all from sinking ?
Please raise your hand if there is someone else who can come forward…!!Recommend
@Hopeful Pakistani
Why don’t you try? Make the effort to make a difference. Despite the popular notion, almost all parties contain people from all demographics and backgrounds. From thugs, to journalists, to businessmen to philanthropists! But you just can’t sacrifice your peace to struggle for someone else? you’d rather sacrifice to struggle for your personal benefit …. either way, it is a life of sacrifice, and really not worth it if it’s for yourself only…. many other options!Recommend
good luck, bilawalRecommend
May ALLAH save us from these ZARDARI type BHUTTOS
Who changes their name for the sake of VOTES
Will they help common Pakistani?
Will they? What a jokeRecommend
That’s certainly a smirk of optimism for Pakistan and the nation has huge anticipates with the PPP and our Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari!!! Immensely proud of him! JEAY BHUTTO, PAKISTAN KHAPPAY!Recommend
@Maulana
I assure you Pakistan can live without PPP, it was able to live without it for the first 20-30 years, and actually, this time Pakistan needs to get rid of PPP in order to survive.
Btw, he’s not Bilawal Bhutto, he’s Bilawal ZardariRecommend
When Salman Taseer and Mr Bhatti were murdered Bilawal boldly said the right things and then there was silence and no follow up. He should have persisted as he was right. That was his first exposure and it misfired. Chalk one up against BBZ.Recommend
Dear All,
First of All Bilwal is not Bhutto at all he is only half from Pakistan his father Master Mind playing mind game of PPP’s Jiyalaas he is purely Zardari the same Zardari his grand father distributed Mitahi While his another Grandfather got hanged. matter of fact is we all pakistani always writing sharing our views and thoughts nothing practical. we really need adult leadership in islamabad. being a pakistani first we should be civilized and honoest/sincere with our self then pakistan. should play vital role to take out pakistani from this insurgencies.
Different elements we all know all our politician are puppet, our media playing the same dirty game with different way, our law enforcement agencies are the same , our Judicial system which we came out as people of pakistan, push the Govt, to return back Mr. Chaudary he is not doing good though he is more focus only with his system (supreme judicial system), he has not been play any vital role for change. Our Mullas are same only Allah SWT running this country. people of pakistan getting poor day by day due to economical problems, no electricity how people will eat if they don’t work.
Surprisingly, we are still keep quite all of our member of parliment are become millionare in this era. still we are silient.
shame on us shame on us being a youth of this country we are still keep quite lets arrange one youth party, we will be on one plateform, no more old faces No MQM/PPP/ANP or any Muslim League. ofcourse to run this show, yes Indeed we need weapons. though i know its not correct but the only way . Highway or myway. because those elements will not allow us, we have to raise fund to open the TV Channel for the same. if you guys interested to start this revolution. some of us will die , either target killed or law enforcement agencies will arrest if you want of save pakistan the Quaid-e-Azam ka Pakistan so let us know we will send you the link for the next stage. Recommend
@ Ammad….. I am doing my best and have joined Imran Khan’s team recently in my area.
There are visible signs of a coming thunder strom that will knock off the entire political ruling class from its roots.Recommend
Whoever is counting on Bilawal to do anything worthwhile for this country is forgetting that he is afterall Zardari’s blood.Recommend
Leadership of Pakistan reflects the character of nation. Recommend
here comes a ready-made prince assembled in the West and brought up in the lap of luxury. despite the sixty so years the rotten structure is so intact. Recommend
He has got the face of his nana , exactly!Recommend
How can some one who hasn’t lived in pakistan relate and understand the poor awams problems? Roti, kapra and makaan seems to be a far fetched reality. The unemployed youth will not fall in this trap (hopefully) by not voting for the PPP in 2013. With diesel at almost 100 rs a liter, I dont know how the poor will be able to survive now. Indeed democracy is the best revenge!!Recommend
dont create hopes which you cant fullfil.
his mother had very liberal and progressive views when she was beeing interviewed in london. everything changed after she came to pak and this family has a habbit of making extreme compromises when her own kursi came into danger.
pakistani people should just not vote for him because he comes from THAT family. that is reason enough…for me!!Recommend
good luck, bilawal bhuttoRecommend