The postmortem of the PPP’s defeat in the May 11 elections has been attributed among other factors to the absence of a ‘national leader’.

With President Asif Ali Zardari limited to the presidency and his children away, there was no national level leader available to lead a general campaign as did the Sharif brothers and Imran Khan for their respective parties.

This issue has become even more important in the post election period where analysts and political leaders are agreed that a leader is needed to revitalise the party and re-motivate its workers.

But who will play this role?

Will it be President Asif Ali Zardari himself who will rejoin the political mainstream after completing his five-year term in September this year or will it be his children who – it is hoped – will carry forward the Bhutto legacy?

And the Bhutto charisma may be needed for the revival of the party which suffered one of its worst defeats in May. The PPP has only managed 42 seats in the National Assembly, including reserved seats for women (eight) and minorities (one). A major chunk of this tally—40 seats—came from the party’s traditional stronghold in Sindh. There was little outside of Sindh to rejoice about.

Perhaps this is why in the PPP’s first meeting held after the election in Lahore, party candidates from Punjab unequivocally demanded that the young Bhuttos needed to be in Pakistan to reach out to the party workers and the voters.

Those who were present in the meeting say that President Zardari promised – both in the meeting and later when speaking to a smaller group of people – that his three children - Aseefa, Bakhtawar and Bilawal – will lead the party, once he finishes his presidential term in September this year.

Though he spoke of all three of his children, many leaders in the party believe that young Aseefa may play the leading role instead of her two elder siblings.

They are of the opinion that her father finds her more politically aware than Bilawal and Bakhtawar.

In recent days, she has been visible by her father’s side unlike the other two who are not in Pakistan.

For instance, she was present at the oath taking ceremony of the new prime minister and played hostess at the event which was held at the presidency. Similarly, on the occasion of President Zardari’s record sixth address to the joint sitting of the parliament last week, she was present in the visitor’s gallery. Bakhtawar and Bilawal were only conspicuous by their absence on both occasions.

A senior party leader told Dawn that Bilawal was exposed to the political side of life during the past five years and he was encouraged to attend high level party meetings as well as government functions and also attend high profile meetings with heads and officials of other states. However, his ability to pick up the ropes was slow and it appeared that his interest was not considerable.

This happened despite the desire of his father – president Zardari wanted Bilawal to play a more active role. This is why after Bilawal completed his education around two years ago, he was asked to attend party meetings and other important events but the son never, it is said, showed much enthusiasm or initiative in this regard.

On the other hand, Aseefa has taken an avid interest in party affairs. She is also more active on social media, where she regularly comments on the politics of Pakistan.

For example, on Wednesday shortly after the PML-N’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced changing the name of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), she tweeted that the programme was envisioned by her late mother, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

She has also played a high profile role as the ambassador for polio eradication from Pakistan. From meeting officials concerned to attending international events in this regard to visiting families whose relatives have been killed while trying to carry out the polio vaccination campaigns, she has become a more familiar face than her siblings.In contrast to her, Bilawal Bhutto, who was anointed as the party chairman and giving speeches at party events as well as attending meetings has failed to make such an impact, argued the PPP leader.

The young man’s departure to Dubai just before general election did not go down well within the party rank and file, further alleged the leader. Though there were news reports that said that Bilawal left because he developed differences with his aunt, Faryal Talpur, over the award of tickets for the election, this account was not considered authentic.

The young chairman’s absence from the country during the elections was simply seen as a sign of his and his father’s lack of interest in the party’s performance in the impending elections.

His recorded speeches to party rallies did not increase his popularity within the party, said another PPP leader who also contested and lost a National Assembly seat from Punjab. He too is of the opinion that “all three children will remain relevant to national politics, but Aseefa will spearhead the party’s revival.”

At the moment these are simply whispers, and perhaps hopes, but the coming months will reveal whether or not Aseefa will prove to be the heir apparent to the Bhutto throne.