The rising Bhutto

• Will the new wine fit in the old bottle?

Whereas on one side, with the demise of Benazir Bhutto, the future of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) became subject to a potential leadership vacuum, on the other the party has remained a victim of severe criticism aimed at its tenure of governance, whether at federal or provincial levels. The PPP faced a major setback in the general elections of 2013 amid the lack of public outreach due to unfavourable security conditions, barely winning over its stronghold of Sind province.

The winds of change, however, turned a new leaf for the PPP with the young chairman, Bilawal Bhutto, entering local politics, re-igniting the lost spark of Bhuttoism via engaging the public through large scale gatherings across the country. With much to learn, the amateur politician, despite being criticised for lack of political understanding and maneuvering, managed to make his mark, and impress many with his political acumen and finesse.

The recent World Economic Forum (WEF) 2018 held at Davos in Switzerland, not to exaggerate, has unleashed Bilawal’s potential to emerge as future leader of Pakistan, and an option to the longing national demand of a young, and untested political figure to take over.

Sick and tired of the same old politicians, as the nation looks forward to a new face, Bilawal Bhutto certainly can prove to be a new wine for our old bottle of a political system

Bilawal’s visit to Davos, accompanied by the vice president of PPP, Senator Sherry Rehman, has made headlines, and is being viewed as a success, particularly in countering the international critique on Pakistan’s role with respect to terrorism, and effectively presenting the national narrative; something the government has been found lacking to do. The young Bhutto’s exhibition of confidence and balance while responding to questions and misconceptions regarding Pakistan at the WEF comes as a breath of fresh air, not just for the nation but also for willing, however reluctant, foreign investors. To impress the most was his nationalist stand for Pakistan alone, leaving behind all political and ideological differences.

The official delegation of Pakistan led by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, as opposed to the leaders of the opposing PPP, instead of being on the front foot remained under the carpets, and barely made any news headlines.

In his back to back busy schedule at Davos, Bilawal started off his visit with the BBC World Debate on the topic, the very real threats fake news and disinformation pose to democracies. The chairman PPP went on to attend a breakfast hosted by the Pathfinder Group for delegates from Pakistan and later on shed light on countering violent extremism in a session. Bilawal also attended the young global leaders’ dinner hosted by the president of World Economic Forum, Borge Brende, and the CEO of Jigsaw, Branden Cohen, where he had the opportunity to meet and interact with other high profile personalities including Haakun Magnus (crown prince of Norway), Jared Kushner, and Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah of Jordan.

Not to leave out the young Bhutto’s first ever interview on his last day at Davos with an Indian journalist from India Today that went viral over the social media where Bilawal vocally defended Pakistan’s military by saying; “It does not serve my purpose or my country’s purpose to criticise my armed forces when they’re fighting terrorists”. Bilawal also emphasised the significance of continued efforts to improve diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan. Relations must be between states, not two persons; he went on saying. He also criticised the Indian and US leaderships dictating Pakistan as it was not the right approach to build prospective relationships. “Despite hostilities on both sides and genuine complaints, ultimately the youth of both countries understand that the only solution is peace. We just have to figure out a way to get there”, stated Bilawal while referring particularly to Indo-Pak relations. 

The PPP chairman’s visit to Davos, on one side where has portrayed Bilawal Bhutto as a potential future candidate for the country’s leadership, on the other will also have positively constructive political implications for the struggling PPP as it might fill up the party’s existing leadership vacuum, and revive the lost-legacy of Bhutto with Bilawal in the driving seat.

Sick and tired of the same old politicians, as the nation looks forward to a new face, Bilawal Bhutto certainly can prove to be a new wine for our old bottle of a political system. With a majority of the country’s population comprising youth, political parties driven by youth are most likely to win over in future elections; hence the focus of political parties on activating their youth political wings. After all, Imran Khan gained popularity on the basis of his youth driven politics. The old Khan, however, does not seem as fit to represent the youth as someone like Bilawal does.

Outdated and traditional approach to local politics is unlikely to get public acknowledgement in the long-term political future.