Bilawal Bhutto to step in ‘electoral politics’ from Larkana on Dec 27

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Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will launch his electoral political career on the date of his mother Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary - December 27 – this year and lead election campaign with the help of senior party leaders in upcoming general elections. According to sources, Bilawal would step in electoral politics from Larkana on December 27 and in the start of next year he would tour several districts across the country along with party’s central leadership and hold meetings with party leaders and members of Central Working Committee (CWC). President Zardari is said to be intending to launch his son’s formal political career in forthcoming general elections. The sources said President Zardari wants to give responsibility for crucial matters to Bilawal who is likely to start his entry into politics from Lyari, Karachi. For this purpose, the President has constituted a committee comprising former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Jahangir Badr, Amin Fahim, Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Manzoor Wattoo, Qaim Ali Shah, Faryal Talpur and eight other senior party members to assist Bilawal. The sources said the committee, along with the party chairman, will map out strategy to be adopted during the upcoming elections. The President has also directed the senior leaders to initiate public relations campaign immediately and all federal and provincial ministers, MNAs, MPAs and senators must ensure their presence at least two days per week in offices in all cities, districts, tehsils, towns and wards. They have been directed to contact people and try to solve their problems. A PPP leader on condition of anonymity said Bilawal, Asifa and Bakhtawar would become the face of the party in the forthcoming general elections. He said after the death of their mother, they have to assume this mantle for the party’s sake. He said Bakhtawar is 22 years old and is not interested in politics while 19 year old Asifa is too young to address public rallies. The PPP is left with no choice but to field Bilawal in active politics, the leader said. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) may field Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of Nawaz Sharif, to muster support in the upcoming general elections as she enjoys a good reputation among the PML (Q) who were previously part of the PML (N). She may well be able to play an important role in bringing back senior leaders of PML-Q Forward Block, sources added. PML-Q Sindh President Ghous Bux Mehar, who was removed as minister for privatization recently, is also being supported by likeminded Parliamentarians in Sindh Assembly, who are reportedly busy in creating a new Forward Bloc. Sources said that Forward Bloc of PML-Q is also in touch with Begum Kulsoom Nawaz for seat adjustment in the forthcoming general elections. Ghous Bux Mehar and likeminded members are considering other options too and are in touch with other parties besides PML-N. They are assessing the whole political situation before taking a final decision. Major differences emerged between Mehar and Shujaat over the controversial Sindh People’s Local Government System 2012. In this regard, viewpoint of PML-Q Forward Bloc and PML-N on Local Government System 2012 in Sindh is almost the same. Though PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain joined hands with rival PPP to save his party, but defections of the MPs continue unabated. The party earlier received a massive blow when its Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa chapter president Amir Muqam switched to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). When contacted, PML-N leader Siddiq-ul-Farooq told Business Recorder that Begum Kulsoom Nawaz played a very important role in the past and she can play a constructive role in bringing back the Forward Block members of PML-Q. He also claimed that a large number of senior PML-Q leaders are in touch with PML-N and they may join the party anytime soon.