Out Of Tragedy Bilawal Breathes New Life Into The Legacy
Bilawal, means ‘one with no equals’
The 19-year-old
Dec 30 (Reuters) - The 19-year-old son of slain Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto is now heir to the country’s most powerful political dynasty.
University student Bilawal Zardari, Bhutto’s only son and eldest child, stepped forward to receive the family’s inheritance on Sunday, accepting joint leadership of her party along with his father, Asif Ali Zardari.
Bilawal says he has three role models: His grandfather, his mother and his jailed father. But they are also history’s burden on him. His grandfather was hanged on murder charges. His mother has been killed by terrorists. His father spent 11 years in jail on corruption charges. His two uncles, Shahnawaz and Murtaza, died violent, mysterious deaths. But being a Bhutto - inheritor of Islamic socialism from his grandfather - Bilawal can’t run away from his legacy and states:
“I think there wouldn’t be such a problem if a dictator doesn’t come and take over every couple of years. This contributes to backwardness and poverty. Democracy is the only way out. The founder of
This is a heavy weight to put on the shoulders of a 19 year old in this day and age. True, history shows children taking the mantle of state or reins of power in past centuries. But, today the convolutions of politics and cultural demands are more complicated and wicked.
He has followed his mother to Oxford University, where he studies history, and he says he will complete his studies before entering the maelstrom of Pakistani politics.
In joining Oxford’s Christ Church college, he also followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Pakistan’s first elected prime minister and founder of the PPP, who was executed under martial law in 1979.
But he looked not entirely at ease as party supporters broke into chants of: “Bilawal, step forward! We are with you!”
Bilawal said that Zardari (father) would “take care” of the party while he continued his studies. Zardari then told reporters to direct questions at him, saying his son was at a “tender age.”
True, Bilawal is an athlete. It will take the stamina of an athlete to tackle the task before him. Benzair Bhutto did the best she could to prepare Bilawal for the inevitable. Until we hear his words and watch his eyes as he speaks, we can only speculate as to his ability to carry on. The demands of the PPP and the country threaten to cut his preparations short and place him in harms way too fast. My heart goes out to this young prince of hope.
December 30th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
The elite powers of the world will never allow this to take place.
December 30th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Larry:
With his age and still being in college there is plenty of time for the Bhutto/Pakistan future to9 be destroyed. I truly hope they can keep it together long enough for him to make some kind of impact.
December 31st, 2007 at 8:21 am
I really hope he is able to continue her legacy. This is absolutely horrible. It made me cry.
December 31st, 2007 at 8:31 am
Unitedwelay:
It is sad that there are so many in this world who would rather have power and suppression than democracy and a better life for their country. Hopefully young Bhutto will be able to achieve what his family has been trying to do for the last 40+ years.
Of course changing our president can only help since Bush is such a failure. His lack of protection of Bhutto after talking her into return to Pakistan is just another example of just how much Bush doesn’t understand.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
TPA Year-End Roundup 2007…
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February 5th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
I personally think this is yet another big joke that the party is playing with its voters. Party leaderships should not run in families. They have no blood connection