Enter ZAB Jr

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PPP has ruled Sindh undisputed for much of Pakistan's existence. In both pre- and post-Zia periods, it was, and has been, nothing but the PPP show, save for a single term (2002-2007) during the Musharraf period when a pro-establishment coalition of MQM, PML-Q, PML-F and National Alliance governed Sindh, denying PPP — the majority party with 51 out of a total of 130 general seats — its principled right to form the government in the province. All these years, no political entity has managed to pose any challenge to the PPP vote bank in Sindh despite the fact that party's rule remains embroiled in allegations of inaction and corruption.

Even PPP-Shaheed Bhutto group — formed by none other than Mir Murtaza Bhutto, the younger son of PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto - failed to make a mark and to dent the PPP popularity. The party rather failed miserably in its first test at the ballot in 1993, only managing a single seat, in Sindh Assembly, clinched by party leader Murtaza who had contested on nearly half a dozen seats. After Murtaza's murder in 1997, the party whose leaders proclaimed themselves to be "real Bhuttos" gradually zoomed out of politics.

However now, the only son of Murtaza Bhutto, who had left Pakistan to settle abroad, has declared entering politics. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Junior has, in his first salvos at the PPP, toed what is a popular line in the prevailing political climate in Sindh that is marked by protests and rallies against the decision of the federal government — of which PPP is also a part - to carve out new canals from the Indus river system. Even though the PPP has got a resolution passed from Sindh Assembly, it finds itself in a difficult position, as indulging in some serious opposition to the canal initiative and playing to the gallery would land it on the wrong side of the reigning political divide. And this is what ZAB Jr apparently seeks to take advantage of.