A baptism of fire?

For Bilawal, many obstacles ahead

While the PPP core committee has decided to shift the public focus from Memogate, contradictory statements regarding Zardari’s sudden departure for Dubai have given birth to still another controversy. On Tuesday, the presidential spokesman had categorically stated that the visit was pre-scheduled, that Zardari had traveled to Dubai to see his children and undergo medical tests linked to a previously diagnosed cardiovascular condition. The suggestion was that the president’s visit was not dictated by any unusual heart related episode on Monday night. Later, a PM house spokesman said the doctors were yet to determine whether the president’s condition was due to an adverse reaction to the medication he was taking or a development related to his pre-existing cardiac condition which suggested that the visit might have been necessitated by a heart-related episode in Islamabad. A day later, Dr Asim Hussain reiterated the earlier stand that the president’s medical test was according to schedule. He made a new revelation, however, that it was upon arrival in Dubai when President Zardari’s health deteriorated. What is needed to do dispel the rumours that create uncertainty is a statement from the doctors treating the president.

The PPP core committee meeting was co-chaired by Gilani and Bilawal Bhutto. The latter was tasked by Zardari to help Gilani in sorting out party affairs. This was in keeping with the PPP culture which requires a Bhutto family member to arbitrate between party leaders as none considers another, whatever his position in the party hierarchy, in any way superior to himself. This explains why Zardari was content with co-chairmanship of the party, conceding the chair to Bilawal Bhutto who was still an undergraduate at Oxford. Bilawal’s presence ensured that the core committee meeting had smooth sailing.

This may not be the case for long though in case President Zardari was not to return soon. A number of highly divisive issues have to be settled in days to come. These include the allotment of party tickets for the March Senate elections. The issue of a local bodies system acceptable to both the PPP workers and MQM cannot continue to hang fire for long either. Bilawal will soon find that he is required to go through a baptism of fire.