Even though he has emerged as the idealistic new face of the party, one of the countrys most notorious politicians remains firmly in charge: Bilawals father, Asif Ali Zardari. Zardaris five years as president were marked by allegations of corruption and misgovernment and the PPP was voted out in a 2013 election when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to power. While the PPP relies on the Bhutto name and legacy to bind its supporters, party insiders say Bilawal has little future without the political expertise of his father. The son realises he does not have his fathers experience. The father knows his sons enthusiasm and energy is greater,” said a family friend, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media on the matter. The day-to-day running of the PPP, all the decision-making, policy-setting, is still Asifs domain. Bilawal has no authority or experience. ... The boss is Asif Ali Zardari. Placing the burden of blood and history on the son reveals an enduring strain in politics in South Asia. In India, four generations of the Nehru-Gandhi family have dominated politics. Dynasties also prevail in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Bilawal told Reuters he was being tutored by his father to play a role in politics. I have learnt politics from both my father and mother, he said. But I engage in progressive politics, learning from the past but looking forward and asking where do I go from here. But analysts and many voters believe the memories of Zulfikar Ali and Benazir Bhutto have begun to fade and the moment has been seized by politicians like former cricket star Imran Khan whose anti-corruption message has attracted young people wanting to break free of dynastic politics. Bilawal is not tainted with any of the rumours that afflicted the PPP in the past, said Husain Haqqani, a family friend and a former ambassador to the United States. Political analyst Jami Chandio said: This is a very competitive political environment and Bilawal needs a new team and a new message. He needs to fire daddys friends if he wants to change things.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 07:58:45 +0000
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