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LAHORE: PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has deferred his programme to take part in active politics after coming home for a year or so, Dawn learnt on Friday.
President Asif Ali Zardari had announced that Mr Bilawal would return to Pakistan in Sept 2011 and would start taking part in active politics. Even he had announced that his son would contest the future elections from Lyari constituency of Karachi.
A source said that it had been earlier worked out for Mr Bilawal to come home this year as his arrival would be beneficial for streamlining the party affairs. “But, later the party think tank had suggested that Mr Bilawal should be here a few months before the elections to see through the electioneering,” he said and added that after this decision, Mr Bilawal had taken admission to some discipline of law.
President’s spokesman Faratullah Babar told Dawn that Mr Bilawal would now return by the end of this year and take part in some kind of active politics. “Yes, the president had said that Mr Bilawal would return in September 2011 and take part in politics but now he would return by the end of this year,” he added.
A PPP leader said the Zardari junior had already kicked off his political career by interacting with the world leaders in China.
He said it was very much likely that he made Dubai a headquarters of his political activities because of security reasons.
Former president General Pervez Musharraf (retired) is also making Dubai a headquarters of his political activities on the platform of his party, All Pakistan Muslim League.
Interestingly, Mr Bilawal did not address even a single PPP’s gathering arranged in the country to celebrate the chairman’s 23rd birthday on Sept 21.
Many believe in the party that workers’ problems would remain unsolved even after the return of Mr Bilawal. “The PPP’s co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, will have the real power over the party affairs for many years to come,” the source added.
President’s coordinator in Punjab Navid Chaudhry told Dawn that the workers wanted Mr Bilawal speaking to them at least through video conferences as it would be helpful in strengthening the party. He said: “Before Mr Bilawal’s return to Pakistan, his interaction with the party rank and file will mobilise the latter,” he added.
Mr Chaudhry said the party should start making preparation for the party’s Foundation Day (Nov 30) now and the party chairman should address the gathering in Lahore as it was founded here.
He said the party organisation should also need to do work on a war footing to strengthen the party and mobilise the masses for its important events.
