Bilawal Bhutto speaks well, but will he walk the talk?

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s first television interview with an Indian news media has gone viral prompting many differing opinions by the public on social media.

In a television interview on Saturday with India Today on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the PPP chief tackled a number of subjects, ranging from the Pakistan-India troubled relationship, his political leanings, his strategy for the country in case the PPP comes into power again– right down to his point of view about his opponents calling him ‘Baby Bhutto.”

 
 

 

The interview has sparked a debate over the social media with many lauding the way former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s eldest son handled the questions that were thrown at him by Indian anchorperson Rahul Kanwal; with a few calling him but a ‘poster boy’ for the PPP with nothing to show for his claims.

Journalist Mosharraf Zaidi in response to a tweet stated,  “Appreciating someone provided decent responses to what was obviously a trollish interview does not mean you automatically love the guy. It’s ok to admit once in a while that someone you don’t like did well.”

 

Twitter user Ashar Jawad tweeted a quote from Bilawal’s interview, “Rahul Kanwal: How will you deal with Pakistan Army and its relationship with India?

Bilawal: What do you mean? Pak Army is my Army. It doesn’t have a relationship with India, the state does.

Rahul: They keeping messing with us

Bilawal: I’m sorry you mess with us as a state ?”

 

He also tweeted, “Differences with PPP aside, I have said it before as well that both Zardari and Bilawal have a firm grip on geopolitics. Unlike the ruling industrialist party that has little concern for Pakistan’s regional strategic goals and concerns. Bas jee tijarat karen Punjab se Punjab.”

 

Another Twitter user Shahbaz Zahid stated, “Quote of the day by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Host: But he (Modi) is winning election after election Bilawal… BBZ: Fair enough, but is winning what’s important or doing the right thing.”

 

 

Journalist Shaheryar Mirza said that the way Bilawal spoke reminded him of his mother, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. He said, “I feel weird saying this but Bilawal spoke really well in his interview with an Indian journalist. Shades of Bibi.”

 

 

Journalist Zarrar Khuhro, praising Bilawal, tweeted, “Well played indeed. Love how the anchor just has to jump to Modi’s defence.”

 

 

“Boy, you spoke exceedingly well and put across your views with a lot of conviction. Very well done,” said another Twitter user, Junaid Akhtar.

 

 

Late Salman Taseer’s son Shahbaz Taseer tweeted, “Bilawal Bhutto Zardari showing maturity beyond his years. I have to say, Rahul Kanwal this is even better than your interview with me! Very very proud of how this young man represents us! Fantastic interview.”

 

 

“What a nice interview. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is measured, polite and unlike his (older) rivals not full of himself,” said journalist Raza Ahmad Rumi.

 

 

PPP Senator Sherry Rehman tweeted, “At perfect pitch, the progressive voice from Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari packs a big punch against hate, extremism, exclusion and the myopia of populist politics globally in Davos today in his first interview to the Indian media. WEF saw the rise of a new Pakistan. So did India.”

 

 

Twitter user Zubair Murshed said, “Well done BBB. Never heard you taking, but you sound like a statesman and know how to deflect tough questions. A different level of performance than all other politicians when talking to India. Well done.”

 

 

However, not everyone had a favourable opinion about Bilawal’s viral interview.

Twitter user Omer said, “Send anyone abroad four private high-class education from childhood to young age and then spend few more years for grooming, you would get either Bilawal or way better than him. PS. If Pakistan has anything to do someone’s credentials, he wouldn’t have to borrow the name of Bhutto to run PPPP.”

 

 

Another Twitter user Barooq said, “English medium Bilawal is a darling no doubt. Speaks of tolerance and peace…
Urdu medium Bilawal cannot complete a speech without Modi ka Yar and security risk narrative. So yeah, frown all you want but this is just hypocrisy.”

 

 

“Anybody with more than two brain cells residing in Sindh knows what PPP is all about. The poster child giving interviews in English won’t change a damn thing,” said a Twitter user Shumail.

 

 

Twitter user Faisal Sherjan asked, “What exactly was excellent here? His tie or his accent?’

 

 

“Bilawal’s interview has no substance to support his claim of being a progressive party.  Interior Sindh speaks volume of the regressive approach of PPP,” tweeted a user Ali.

 

 

Abdul Rafay Maqbool tweeted, “Mature interview has nothing to do with governance. The condition of health and education in Sindh cannot be improved with this useless interview. Shame on you, and on Bilawal also for not questioning his govt.”

 

 

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was only 19 when he became the chairman of the PPP, three days after his mother’s assassination in December 2007.

He is the son of former Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari and murdered ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto. He initially kept a low profile, mainly focusing on completing his education at the Oxford University, London.

After finishing his education, however, he returned to Pakistan in 2010 and has taken on a more active role as PPP chairman since then.

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