Daily Times

Despite all threats to his life and being victimised both by the hands of terrorists and political opponents, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari — the Bhutto heir — is on the road to campaigning for his party fearlessly and tirelessly.

The young Bhutto, who is merely 29 years of age — on which account he does not even qualify to be the Prime Minister — has campaigned from Karachi to Peshawar. Throughout his journey, he stopped in every city, spoke to his workers, responded to their slogans and waved hands to his followers yet he did not use any derogatory remarks against his staunch political opponents. Rather, he condemned the crackdown against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the arrest of its workers on Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s return from the UK, where he was arrested at the airport. Although Nawaz was a stern political opponent to his martyred mother, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and responsible for putting his father Asif Ali Zardari behind bars in fake cases, yet Bilawal neither celebrated his arrest nor expressed any delight over the verdict against him.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari only talks about his manifesto, which promises to solve the problems of the poor, subjugated and oppressed people of Pakistan.

Wherever he went, people gathered in the thousands just for a glance at him. Expecting to hear punitive speeches against his political opponents, who are leaving no stone unturned to level allegations against his party and defame its leadership. During his journey from Karachi to Peshawar and from Peshawar to Karachi, Bilawal remained sane, rational, and polite and the most dynamic. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, sanity prevailed in Pakistani politics, courtesy of none other than Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

In such a situation Pakistan needs daring leaders who have the courage to challenge terrorism and extremism. Not leaders who remain silent on terrorism because they wants to play safe politics

The question is, who actually represents the youth, the rational and literate section of our society and the poor? Is it the ‘leader’ who doesn’t utter a word in his speeches about the rights and problems of the people of Pakistan but slings mud on his opponents, or the one who speaks about their problems? Who best represents the people? The ‘leader’ who is calling workers from other parties “sons of dancers” or the one who asks his workers to not respond to their abusive language?

It was a pleasant experience for the people of Pakistan to finally have a leader who talks sense. Pakistan must shun the politics of abuse. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has proven himself to be the most mature politician in our country, even though he’s still in his twenties.

The court has convicted one of his political opponents while an entire book has been written about the other, yet Bilawal has not spoken a single word against either because he wants change. Change can only come when politics are about issues, not personalities.

Water scarcity is perhaps the most alarming issue facing the country today. It has made the public sleepless to know that by 2025 Pakistan could be suffering from acute water scarcity. In its manifesto, PPP has highlighted this danger and has promised to address it. None other than Bilawal Bhutto Zardari among the country’s current political stalwarts have the vision to understand the country’s external and internal issues and I am sure many politicians are not even aware of the country’s water scarcity problem because for them politics is nothing but a blame game.

Other key contents of PPP’s manifesto are eliminating hunger, healthcare for all, provision of clean water and sanitation, social benefits for the poor, free education for all, agriculture, restructuring trade and industry, energy sector reforms, labour policy, women’s economic empowerment and civil reforms. These were all dreams of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, which can certainly be fulfilled by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The young generation of every country is regarded a sits greatest asset as it plays a vital role in the country’s development, politics and trends. Almost every political leader is chanting slogans to stimulate the youth. Sadly when it comes to the youth playing an actual role they mock it. Haven’t they been ridiculing Bilawal for his age? When youngsters play a positive role, it keeps the nation alive at the international level because through their contribution, the nation can progress in the right direction. Furthermore, Bilawal, Aseefa and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari’s conduct in the run-up to the elections should make them role models for other politicians.

Instead of shoving people and engaging in petty namecalling, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari asks his guards to treat his people kindly, humbly, courteously and affectionately which I have myself witnessed everywhere. Despite security threats he cannot be persuaded to stay away from his workers but like his mother, he comes out of his car’s sunroof and answers the slogans of his excited workers.

Because of his good conduct, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was able to avoid criticism from independent analysts and journalists. In fact, the young Bilawal is receiving appreciation from everyone for the sanity he is trying to bring to Pakistani politics.

Yes, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari becomes aggressive when it comes to terrorists and he condemns them fearlessly. Presently, Pakistan is under attack by terrorists and extremists. In the run-up to these elections, more than 200 innocent Pakistanis embraced martyrdom including Shaheed Haroon Bilour of Awami National Party, Shaheed Siraj Raisani of Balochistan Awami Party and Shaheed Ikramullah Gandapur of PTI. In such a situation Pakistan needs daring leaders who have the courage to challenge terrorism and extremism. Not leaders who remain silent on terrorism because they wants to play safe politics.

Facing numerous socio-economic, internal and external issues, Pakistan cannot afford political leaders who are more interested in gimmicks than constructive politics. To integrate ourselves with the modern, developed world, our politicians must mature. Following the life and policies of his ancestors, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will certainly fill the vacuum, created after the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

The writer is resident of Parachinar (FATA) and an activist affiliated with the PPP. He tweets @RiazToori

Published in Daily Times, July 25^th 2018.