Pakistan - Bilawal Bhutto - Back to PPP’s ideological roots

Ailia Zehra

At a time when the political activities of extremist groups are on the rise, the least our politicians can do is take the extremists to task for their hateful rhetoric.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has recently emerged as the most civilised and sensible mainstream politician. Apart from being one of the few politicians who have openly challenged extremism without mincing words, he has been displaying a lot of political maturity lately. This kind of civilised politics is largely missing in Pakistan and it is heartening to see head of one of the largest opposition parties choosing to avoid the path of confrontation.

The PPP chairman is among the 11 Pakistanis attending World Economic Forum 2018 in Davos, Switzerland. While commenting on the term ‘fake news’ and its use in recent times at a discussion on ‘fake news vs real politics’, where he was a panellist, Bilawal expressed concern over world leaders ‘demonising’ the press in a reference to US President Donald Trump. Without naming any politicians, he stated that the practice of bullying media groups seen as unfriendly also exists in Pakistan. He articulated his thoughts well and held a balanced position while answering questions. In another session about the need for countering extremism, Bhutto showed similar clarity of thoughts and said action against terrorism should also include effective efforts to counter extremism.

Accompanying the PPP chairman is former Pakistan ambassador to the US and senior PPP leader Senator Sherry Rehman who is among Bilawal Bhutto’s mentors. It is said that politicians are known by the advisers they keep. A close aide of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Sherry Rehman is one of the sane voices in PPP. Bilawal Bhutto certainly needs to surround himself with more people like Sherry Rehman so as to gain the requisite political experience.

With that being said, words without action mean little and Bilawal’s ideological statements should be followed by policy action in the province where his party is in government. The PPP leadership is accused of supporting and backing corrupt elements within the party and it is time for the party leaders to come clean on that front. Bilawal’s emergence as a balanced and restrained politician is certainly a breath of fresh air. Pakistan’s politics is desperately in need of such maturity given the ongoing challenges facing the country.

Elements trying to use the religion card to stir public sentiments need to be called out and the PPP, being the torchbearer of pluralism, should live up to its principles by challenging extremism

Moreover, a counter-narrative against the extremist narrative is needed in Pakistan, for which all political leaders need to acknowledge and work towards eliminating the threat extremism poses to the stability of the country. Throughout the year 2017, sheer bigotry was on display everywhere in Pakistan. The activities of bigoted elements continue across the country and it appears that political leaders are afraid of taking on the religious fanatics. Minorities are being openly threatened by extremist groups which have been given a free hand by the government. At a time when political activities of extremist groups are on the rise, the least our politicians can do is take the extremists to task for their hateful rhetoric. Bilawal Bhutto’s clear stance against extremism and terrorism is commendable. Elements trying to use religion card to stir public sentiments need to be called out and the PPP, being the torchbearer of pluralism, should live up to its principles by challenging extremism. Furthermore, the PPP chairman would do well to realise that the fastest way to revive the PPP is to improve the performance of Sindh government where his party has been in government for 10 years.