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Naudero, Pakistan: The son of slain Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was on Sunday chosen to lead the party and he immediately vowed to keep up "her struggle for democracy".
At an emotional news conference where his father was named co-chair of the Pakistan Peoples Party, the 19-year-old Bilawal Bhutto, an Oxford University student untested in politics, said he was ready to lead.
The party also said it would take part in elections on January 8 despite Bhutto's assassination in a gun and suicide bomb attack on Thursday and called on former premier Nawaz Sharif not to boycott the polls.
UN investigation
"My mother always said that democracy is the best revenge," Bilawal told a news conference at the family home in Pakistan's deep south that was punctuated by cheers from supporters.
"The party's long and historic struggle for democracy will continue with a new vigour," he said.
Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari demanded a United Nations probe into her assassination, along the lines of the world body's probe of the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri. "We demand a Hariri commission-style investigation," Zardari told reporters.
"We are writing to the United Nations for an international probe into her martyrdom."
A spokesman for the ruling party said Pakistan's crucial January 8 parliamentary elections are likely to be postponed by up to four months following the assassination of Bhutto.
Tariq Azim, information secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, said the parliamentary elections would lose credibility if they are held on January 8.
He expected authorities to announce a delay within 24 hours.
- With inputs from agencies
Your comments
Shouldn?t it be Bilawal Zardari instead of Bilawal Bhutto? It is ridiculous that the same leaders who had been preaching democracy are now turning to dynastic politics and have handed over the PPP's reins to a teenager who does not know the threads of the complex politics in Pakistan. Did the party not have any other member to take the leadership? Where is democracy now? Who said that the PPP was a people's party and belonged to the people? It is, was and will remain family business.
W. Ansari
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 31, 2007, 11:08
Bilawal Zardari should not take over as chairman of the PPP. He would always be known as the son of Zardari and not as part of the Bhutto family. Someone from the Bhutto family -- maybe, Murtaza Bhutto's son -- should lead the party. Now, it seems, Bilawal is adopting the name of Bhutto with ulterior motives.
Omar Salman Rahim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 31, 2007, 10:37
The PPP's decision to bring Bilawal and Asif Zardari into the party fold is a good one and a fitting tribute to Benazir. Asif Zardari came across as a caring person in an interview with the NDTV. I am sure he will do well for Pakistan.
Bela Gupta
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 31, 2007, 10:24
Considering the turmoil prevailing in Pakistan, it is best for Bilawal that he does not take the PPP leadership upon his young shoulders. The party sharks will not allow him to survive. He may end up being a mere puppet in the hands of the senior members of the PPP.
Nisreen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 31, 2007, 08:56
I do not see any democracy in Bilawal taking the place of his slain mother as she had done when her father (Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto) was hanged. What a joke! If you call this democracy, then the Pakistanis are better off with an Army General as the head of state.
Ahsan
Birmingham,UK
Posted: December 31, 2007, 07:39
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