A setback for PPP

Bilawal Bhutto has left Pakistan at a crucial moment for the PPP. The party will now have to conduct its election campaign in the absence of the most charismatic figure in its leadership. For the common PPP worker Bilawal represented Benazir and was a reincarnation of the party founder, Z.A Bhutto. The departure of the young Bhutto was sudden and entirely unexpected. He was being prepared to lead the party since he settled in the country after completing his education, When he delivered his speech at Garhi Khuda Bux in December last year it was presumed that he would lead the party in the elections. Last week when Zardari resigned as co-chairman of the party, Bilawal was tasked to lead the PPP. There were reports about plans to get him elected in a by- election soon after he attained the required age limit. All this is now in doubt.

Did Bilawal leave on account of threats to his life? Maybe the story is correct. But knowing the way he disregarded the dangers of the sort all this while he must have been prevailed upon to go out of Pakistan. Another story doing the rounds hints at differences with his father and aunt over stands taken by the party leadership on militancy, sectarianism and award of party tickets cannot however be dismissed out of hand. The statement he made after the killing of Salman Taseer and the assurances of support to the minorities was the boldest from any PPP leader. Surrounded by a hardboiled and worldly-wise team practicing realpolitik, a bold and liberal idealist like Bilawal was a square peg in a round hole.

Even if the sole reason behind Bilawal’s departure were security concerns, these are likely to persist during the entire election campaign. His absence from the country may not therefore be for days or weeks but for a much longer period. Under the circumstances, the elections would pose a challenging task to the PPP leadership. In 2008 the PPP rode to power on the sympathy wave caused by the unfortunate assassination of Benazir Bhutto. The party had never before contested any election without a Bhutto figure leading it. While Bilawal’s absence will be noted by the PPP voters all over the country, the biggest impact of the departure is likely to be felt in Sindh. Inside the PPP Bilawal’s departure has created a leadership vacuum. With Zardari already having resigned as co-chairman the party is left with no chief in the field. While Faryal Talpur has displayed enough energy during the last couple of years, it remains to be seen if she can acquire the mantle of a Bhutto scion. As things stand, deprived of its strongest asset, the PPP will have to enter the electoral battlefield without a rallying figure.