Bilawal returns as party leaders begin to grumble about his absence

Pakistan People’s Party  chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari returned to Karachi from Dubai and was scheduled to address party rallies through video conferencing due to security  threats,  top party sources said.

“Bilawal travels frequently between Dubai and Karachi and we do not share his travel plans”, chief of staff to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Hisham Sheikh told a reporters.

Hisham added that, “Federal Intelligence Agency (FIA) had informed us in writing about serious security threats posed to the life of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and we have taken measures accordingly.”

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar also admitted that there were serious  security threats to the party’s top leadership and candidates but made it clear that the PPP did not want any delay in the polls.

He said party candidates have been directed to immediately  inform government in case of  security threats by terrorists.

Senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party Makhdoom Amin Faheem said  that the party would use social media, SMS texts, personal contacts and very limited corner meetings due to security concerns.

Pakistan People’s Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is leading his party’s election campaign for the coming general elections, had left for Dubai on Wednesday.

However, even as the PPP chairman departed from the country, PPP’s candidates contesting from the provincial capital had complained that their campaign was not getting momentum as none of the central leaders, especially Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, had addressed their rallies.

They said the party leadership had left them in the lurch at a time when the elections are just two weeks away.

Navid Chaudhry, Aurangzab Burki and Bushra Aitzaz, candidates from NA-125, NA-121 and NA-124, respectively, were more vocal in giving vent to their feelings.

They said they were doing their best at the individual level but unless Bilawal Bhutto or any central leader attended their rallies in their constituencies, they could not mobilise the people.

Bilawal Bhutto’s departure amid electioneering is quite significant at a time when his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, is not taking part in political activities because of restrictions by courts.

Bilawal Bhutto, who has been advised not to appear in public because of security threats, did not attend an election gathering of his party in Multan on Sunday. He kicked off the PPP’s election campaign on Tuesday through a video message.

In his video message, the PPP chairman said that hindrance was being created in the way of PPP.

He said he knew that his life was in danger and people who were behind the assassination of his mother Benazir Bhutto now wanted to kill him.

Another candidate complained that the party leadership had awarded them tickets but never cared to give them funds. “Our opponents especially the PML-N candidates are spending enormously and to compete with them we also need money,” he said.

Navid Chaudhry said the Election Commission of Pakistan was not taking notice of the violation of election code of conduct being committed by the candidates of other parties in his constituency NA-125. “We have submitted a request to the ECP in this regard but to no avail,” he said asking the leadership to take up the matter at the party level.

Some candidates also complained that a couple of local media channels were siding with other parties and the PPP should bring this to the notice of the ECP.