ON Friday, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari provided the much required note of dissent in Pakistani politics. Speaking at Garhi Khuda Bukhsh, he spoke in definite terms against militancy, as a large crowd marked the sixth death anniversary of a popular leader who had bravely stood up to the militants even when she was fully aware of the consequences. At the gateway of his political career, Benazir Bhutto’s son not only declared his determination to fight against militancy, he was also able to show that he was more adept now in the use of words than he had been some time ago. Quite clearly, the Bilawal-Asif Ali Zardari duo has chosen to follow the formula where the father is to display caution while the young man is given a free licence to target opponents. That may be a good strategy but it has to be accompanied by some action and for this action to take place, Mr Bhutto Zardari, as chairman of the PPP, must get the nuances right.

Future action cannot be restricted to flaunting one’s bravado. It has to be about coming up with alternative schemes to improve the lot of the people, economically and socially. The remarks about ‘cowardly’ opponents and the droll allusions to a tsunami as he took pot shots at rivals are not going to do the trick. For the PPP to stay relevant in the country’s politics, the young leader will have to understand what kind of party worker, or ‘jiyala’, the situation demands. And he would have to go one step further to accept that the anger of the jiyalas against the party is symptomatic of the reservations that the people at large have vis-à-vis the PPP. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s thunder will signify little unless he takes a look at how some other young scions of known political families are going about consolidating their family and party legacy which the PPP chief too is so eager to strengthen. Flashy slogans have a short lifespan in these times of increased public awareness and informed public demands — shorter than in the past anyway. Longevity requires maturity. The young politician has shown energy. He must now come up with policies to reconnect with the people and their aspirations.