LONDON, Jan 8: Benazir Bhutto’s teenage son and political heir warned on Tuesday that Pakistan could disintegrate unless fair elections were held, as he defended his appointment as his assassinated mother’s successor.

In a packed first full press conference since taking over as chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari vowed to continue her legacy and pledged to give hope to a new generation of Pakistanis.

While the 19-year-old said his immediate priority was to resume his studies at Britain’s prestigious University of Oxford, he insisted the threat of being assassinated himself had not put him off leading the PPP.

“How many Bhuttos can you kill? From every house a Bhutto will come,” he told reporters at the Gore Hotel.

Bilawal also stressed the importance of elections, which were postponed until next month following his mother’s killing.

“I fear for my country. I fear that if free and fair elections are not held it may disintegrate,” he said.

He renewed a call for a United Nations-backed probe into his mother’s death.

“The family’s and party’s request is for a UN-sponsored investigation, because we do not believe that an investigation under the authority of the Pakistan government has the necessary transparency,” he said.

“It is our belief that had she been given adequate protection she would be alive today.

“Since her death is under investigation, I’m not prepared to comment further on who we believe is responsible,” he added.

“I do not claim to have any aspiration. I was called and I stepped up to do what I was asked to do,” he said, dismissing questions about the undemocratic nature of his succession.

“It wasn’t handed on like some piece of family furniture. They asked me to do it and I did.

“It was recognised at this moment in crisis the party needed a close association with my mother through the bloodline. Also it was important to give hope to the new generation of Pakistanis who are looking not just to these elections but beyond.”

Speaking in English, Bilawal looked relaxed after a tense start, reading a statement before answering questions.

The first-year student, flanked by party officials and aides, said his mother’s death had only firmed his resolve.

He hoped eventually to “complete the mission of my mother and carry forward her legacy.

“It has made me more resilient and I feel I really want to see democracy for Pakistan now because we’ve lost our best hope, we haven’t lost our only hope.”

Acknowledging his limited political experience, he said his immediate priority was to complete his education, adding that otherwise “I will never be in a position to have sufficient wisdom to enter the political arena. At present my role as chairman is one into which I shall step gradually and carefully,” he added.

He appealed for privacy when term starts next week at Christ Church College.

“When I am at Oxford I hope that I can be left alone.”—AFP