Bhutto baton to be passed on to new generation
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, widower of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, speaks outside the Bhutto family mausoleum to mark her death anniversary in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, near Larkana December 26, 2012.— Photo by AFP
LARKANA / SUKKUR: Amid speculations on the eve of the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto that President Asif Ali Zardari, who is co-chairman of the PPP, may hand over the party’s leadership to his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Wednesday that it would be an important day for the party and the country as another Bhutto was starting his political career.
Talking to reporters at Sukkur Press Club, he said the journey started by the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and continued by Benazir Bhutto for strengthening the country was full of crises, problems and sacrifices.
He said Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had begun the journey by giving a new philosophy to Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto had also given her vision and now Bilawal Bhutto would announce his vision.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro and Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani have also been talking about the beginning of the ‘political career’ of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto.
However, the president’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar, talking to Dawn, rejected the speculation about a handover of party leadership and termed it ‘totally incorrect’.
The central executive committee of the Pakistan People’s Party is scheduled to meet on Thursday at the camp office of the President’s House. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will preside over the meeting, according to sources. Mr Kaira said the killers of Benazir Bhutto had been arrested and President Zardari, Bilawal and daughters were satisfied with the investigation.
He said Saifur Rehman had registered fake cases and the Supreme Court had not upheld a high court verdict against PPP’s leaders after the disclosure of a telephone conversation related to it. He said the judges who had taken bribe and punished Ms Bhutto and President Zardari were gone, but a person who had “bought the verdict” was now a chief minister.
He said Sindh had played a vital role in the creation and strengthening of Pakistan.
The minister said that when the PPP government came to power in 2008, it was being said that Taliban might capture Islamabad, no other country was with Pakistan, people were facing problems in getting flour and food grains were being imported.
“The government has brought the economic crisis under control despite two major floods and now the country is exporting grains and also playing its role at all international forums,” the information minister said.
The federation was weak when the PPP took over, but it had resolved a major problem like provincial autonomy, he said.
He said the previous president, who was in army uniform, had been permitted not only to contest elections but also to amend the Constitution.
However, President Zardari has handed over all powers to the prime minister and parliament.
Mr Zardari was serving as a political president because conspiracies were hatched against democracy in the past in President’s House, Mr Kaira said.
He said an additional Rs1,000 billion had been given to the provinces. The federation would be stronger when provinces were strengthened, he said.
Mr Kaira said elections would not be postponed.
He said the Kalabagh dam issue was a dead horse and PPP’s stance on it was clear.
In reply to a question, he put down the electricity crisis to shortage of water in canals, disapproving of attempts to politicise the matter.
Talking earlier in Rahimyar Khan at the residence of PPP MNA Javaid Iqbal Warraich, Mr Kaira said the politics of ultimatums was not good for the country. He said Tehrik Minhajul Quran leader Tahirul Qadri was welcome, contending that democracy had made it possible.
He said the PPP would accept Dr Qadri’s demand for a role for the army and judiciary in the caretaker set-up.
Mr Kaira said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement was a coalition partner of the PPP, but the two parties had different ideologies.
The minister expressed reservations on the court decision against former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Mr Kaira said former minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi would be PPP’s candidate from his constituency.
Talking to PPP workers on the occasion, he severely criticised the Sharif brothers and the Punjab government.
Bilawal,
Pakistan needs development not more feudal leaders elected on the basis of who their father/mother was. PPP lost any semblance of democracy when it voted Benazir as leader for life! These feudals will end up like the french aristocracy if they keep it up. The best thing Bilawal can do is not to seek power and allow the PPP to become democratic itself, only then may we one day have democratic behavior in government.
He will NOT get any chance, in fact being Zardari looting ends right here. Pakistan just can not take any further chance going down in the plug hole.
No chance, will follow the same root in ending just like them.
Truly speaking Bhuttos have been a curse on Pakistan. First it was papa Bhutto who paved the way for the creation of Bangladesh way back in 1970 & now it is the Bhutto Zardari family burying Pakistan further deep into uncertainty & corruption, shame
Haven’t this family already looted enough money from the country that they feel a need to appoint another member
It is not being passed on to another Bhutto but to another Zardari, not that it makes any difference to me but it shows their dishonesty.
Absolutely! And yet it dismays me that people are too blind to see through. fool me once shame on you…fool me again and again…I deserve it.
he will write new history of corruption and abuse of power.
The last of the Feudals.
As Pakistan transitions from a rural/agrarian economy to the urban/industrial one, feudal-military complex will give rise to the military-industrial complex.
City always triumphs over the countryside. The days of Feudals like Bhuttos are over.
You read it here first.
“Bhutto baton to be passed on to new generation.”
Would that be the Baton of People Beating? This is political suicide for the PPP.
Nepotism was what crushed Indonesia in 1998, but the people ended nepotism and crushed corruption when Western Banks stepped in to lend a hand.
Doubt anyone will stand for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari being “elected”. He will be called Kim Jong-Un.
Time for an end to British sounding politicians talking through their noses above the people. No matter how things turn out the anglophiles are on the run in Pakistan.
Look at the photo of President Asif Ali Zardari. His prayer cap is just a stage prop that will not see his party come through this – even if they do manage to steal the election.
Pakistan will not be left as hostage to corrupt bhutto family. Bilawil will not be tolerated , youth must stand up and throw him out, spend their life out side the country and then claim as leader, shame of PPP members who tolerate this non sense
What a joke. Is this a monarchy or democracy?
think of it an monachracy
is it Pakistan Bhutto Party or Pakistan Peoples Party .. where r other ppl ..
This guy is not even real Bhutto. He is Zardari disguised as Bhutto. It reminds me that Imran Khan is the real lion of Pakistan, a self made man who needs no family blood line to survive. Long live the lion of Pakistan.
wow. look at the mosoleum that zardari made for his wife using our money. what a waste.
He is a zardari, NOT A BHUTTO, brainwashing the public as always.
This mausoleum is a construction monstrosity. Such extravagant expenditure to house the dead who deceived the nation and lead to its division losing the East Pakistan.
Go ahead let the kingdom go to the prince now. PPP is in business of making money and like any business son takes over the business after dad retires. More power to the representative of poor labour and Kisan, the “socialist” landlords of Pakistan.
Mansoor Khan
USA