With the death of Benazir Bhutto, the spotlight now points at Bilawal Bhutto Zardari . Being the only son, 19 year-old Bilawal Zardari was catapulted to the seat as the PPP (Pakistan People's Party) Chairman. The sudden change of events even made him change his name from Bilawil Zardari to Bilawil Bhutto. The following article about Bilawal's first press conference is taken from Times of India.
Bilawal in his first ever press conference as the Chairman of the
party thanked the CEC members and said that he remained committed to the
federation of Pakistan.
"Democracy is best revenge," Bilawal said and
added that the PPP would work with a "renewed vigour".
The 19-year-old
son of slain former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on
Sunday was elected as the Chairman of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) by the
members of the Central Executive Committee of the party at a meeting which was
held at Bhutto's parental Naudero House in Larkana.
Senior Vice-Chairman
of the party Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who presided over Sunday's meeting, announced
this at a press conference after the marathon meeting that went for over five
hours.
Fahim said that during the meeting Bilawal read out his mother's
will that was signed on October 16, two days before she returned to Pakistan
ending her self-exile.
"In the will, Benazir had stated that if she dies
then her husband Asif Ali Zardari would lead the party, but during today's
meeting Zardari said that he would not take the responsibility and offered the
post to his son Bilawal, which was endorsed by everyone," Fahim told reporters.
Later in the press conference Zardari, who has been appointed as the
co-chairman of the party, said, "Benazir ki tasveer Bilawal (Benazir's image is
Bilawal)," that led to party workers shout slogans in praise of Benazir and her
son Bilawal.
The party constitution, however, states that the Chairman
of the party must be at least 22 years old.
Earlier in the day, PPP spokesperson
Sherry Rehman had said that Bilawal is not keen to take up
the post and wants to pursue his studies at the Oxford University.
Our reaction:
Bilawal Bhutto falls on the same age range as we do so we know the thought of how it is like to be young and... oh well, innocent.
At his young age, there is a great PROBABILITY that some people would USE him to practice their influence in Pakistan. To add that he didn't really grew up in Pakistan, he has much to learn about the nitty-gritty of the situation where he is now. With his appointment as the Chairman, he is open to manipulation of people claiming to be his "advisers".
From what we've read, Bilawal is still a freshman in Oxford. Thus, he still has to finish three or so years before graduation. That's quite a long time. And what do we know, when he is twenty-two or such, maybe, he'll learn enough to be able to handle the reins of the PPP.
Knowing a lot of people from politically-active families, we know how it feels like to have people looking up to you and expecting you to do well like your grandmother or whoever. The responsibility is not as easy as you imagine. You might ask, "hey, you're just heading a political party, what's so difficult about it?" It is difficult. You need to plan everything. Because you're not only planning the life of one person, you're actually drafting the fate of a nation. Think about 161,488,000 people depending on you.
On the issue of juxtaposed political dynasty and democracy. We realized that yes, the Bhuttos stand for democracy but why is it that they seem to promote dynasties? The answer glares when you hear about the riots that spurted out after Benazir's assasination. If people can do this for their loyalty to the Bhutto family, then it is still democracy. Because it still instills the will of the people.
We are not Pakistani but we have read quite a lot about Pakistan. Judging from our lessons in International Politics - which were not even thouroughly discussed - it's no joke to run a country. Especially if you have everyone's attention in you. You have to do well to be a political leader for people to love you.
In conclusion, we think that Bilawil's victory as a political leader is not tantamount to his being a Bhutto or his good looks. His (and Pakistan's) success lies on himself and the ability of the Pakistani people. They have to work hand in hand. Even experienced policy-makers and politicians suffer from this great responsibility.
Let alone a nineteen year old boy.
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