Bilawal to be new chief of Zardari tribe

According to Sindhi tradition, after the demise of the chief of any tribe his eldest son becomes the new chief, but after senior politician and chief of his tribe Hakim Ali Zardari passed away, his only son President Asif Ali Zardari has decided to forego the title in favour of his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said on Friday that Bilawal would be the new chief of the Zardari tribe. He said according to tribal tradition, the transition to the new chief was formalised in a customary gathering of tribal elders called “dastar bandi”, which is held on or soon after the soyem, the third day of prayers for the deceased chief.
He said that according to tradition, after the death of Hakim Zardari, his son Asif Zardari has become the chief of the tribe, but President Zardari had decided not to become the tribal chief and had passed on the largely ceremonial title to his son, Pakistan People’s Pary Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. He said the dastar bandi had, however, been put off until such time that the overall condition of the country had improved and holding such tribal ceremonies did not appear insensitive, since customary tribal ceremonies were also accompanied at times by a measure of fanfare.