Click to play videoNaudero (Pakistan): In the time-honoured tradition of subcontinent politics, a grieving son was yet again asked to take over the mantle of a rudderless political party.
The Pakistan People's Party on Sunday appointed Bilawal - 19-year-old son of assassinated Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto - as its chairman.
Benazir's husband Asif Ali Zardari was appointed the party's co-chairman, party officials announced after a meeting of the top officials in Naudero in Pakistan.
"It has been decided that Bilawal will be the chairman and Mr (Asif Ali) Zardari will be co-chairman," one of the party officials said.
In a press conference convened by PPP after the meeting, Zardari insisted the party will remain committed to the cause of democracy in Pakistan. "We will ensure elections take place according to Benazir's will," he said.
He also said Benazir wanted him to lead the party but he chose to annoint his son. Incidentally, Zardari was notoriously known as "Mr 10 per cent" during his wife's tenure as Pakistan Prime Minister.
Bilawal to retain Bhutto name
Zardari also took the partymen and the journalists by surprise when he said Bilawal will retain the Bhutto surname and will henceforth be referred to as Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The announcement elicited a roaring applause from the partymen.
All the while, the 19-year-old scion sat at the centre of the stage and heard his father reply to journalists' queries. Finally, he spoke, English accent in place. "I am thankful to the CEC for trusting me. Like all chairmen of PPP, I will stand as a symbol of the federation. The party's long and historic struggle for democracy will continue with new vigour. I stand committed to the federation. My mother always said democracy is the best revenge," he said.
A shaken-looking Bilawal also replied to a question put by CNN-IBN's Suhasini Haidar who asked him if he knew his mother wanted him to join politics.
“My mother wanted what is best for Pakistan. She entrusted my father to take care of the party. As we know, the chairmanship of the party is a position which is occupied by martyrs. We do not know for how long my father will be able to keep this position, while I am at my University. I will continue with my studies, my father will take care of the party and when I come back, I pormise to lead the party as my mother wanted me to,” he said.
Zardari demands international probe
The party was also overwhelmingly in favour of taking part in a January 8 general election but had yet to reach a formal decision on participation in it, party officials had earlier told news agency Retuers.
Zardari, too, made clear the party is ready go to polls and indicated Abdul Faheem will be its prime ministerial candidate. Zardari also said PPP will approach United Nations for an international probe into Benazir's assassination.
"I have already rejected the shrapnel theory. She was shot and we will appeal to UN to conduct an investigation," Zardari said.
Earlier in the day, an emotional Zardari spoke to PPP supporters in Larkana, vowing to keep up the struggle.
“God tests those who have strong belief and so he has chosen Benazir's followers. I vow that I will not let you down. Bhutto is alive. We will continue to struggle against tyranny. How many Bhuttos will they kill? Long live Bhutto,” he said.
Benazir, Pakistan's former prime minister, was killed in a gun and bomb attack as she left an election rally in the city of Rawalpindi on Thursday.
Her PPP had also set up a committee to urge the United Nations to demand that the Pakistani government allow an independent inquiry into Bhutto's killing, one of the officials said.
The backgrounder
On Saturday, a senior party leader had confirmed the news to IANS, saying Benazir had sealed her will that was in possession of her son and two daughters - Bakhrtawar and Assefa in Dubai.
PPP president Makhdoom Shah Quereshi confirmed the news to CNN-IBN. “The party will retain the Bhutto legacy. A Bhutto family member was crucial for the party. Faheem is the most likely candidate but the Central committee will take the decision,” he said.
The party official said that will along with a letter written by her would be read by her son after the collective prayers for her on Sunday at Bhutto House.
He said that the party offered Zardari the opportunity to lead the PPP, but he refused saying that according to the will, their son would lead the party.
The party leader said that Zardari, who is in Nowdera at Bhutto House, took the party leaders into confidence regarding appointment of Bilawal as the party chief.
(With inputs from Reuters, IANS)
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