Bilawal, finally

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

These are not the times for politics — this has been the PPP slogan of late. The refrain takes on an entirely new meaning now that the vow to not do politics is accompanied by the PPP co-chairman’s presence among people affected by the floods.

The pledge for political restraint was not entirely unwarranted. The political situation in the wake of Imran Khan’s war on the system demanded sobriety. The question asked, however, was whether the PPP was going too far with its support for the prime minister — to a point where it posed a danger to itself.

The PPP leadership was staying away from the ground, especially in Punjab, which was bad politics. With Bilawal Bhutto Zardari venturing into the flood-hit areas of Punjab together with his visits to parts of Sindh, it is an attempt at better politics.

The PPP politicians in Punjab have been long waiting for their leader to show up. The party is faced with a serious revival challenge in the province and its support has fallen drastically. It has in recent times been accused of failing to make even a basic effort at exploring any space emerging out of the tussle between the PTI and PML-N.

So eerie has been the PPP’s dormancy that some well-known party names in Punjab have been asked when they planned to switch to other available choices. Those among them who want to be with the PPP in its tough hour in the province would be happy that Mr Bhutto Zardari has at last found the lost map to their neighbourhood.

All they can hope now is that the tour by their leader of Chiniot, Lahore and Multan is followed by more such visits and a sustained campaign aimed at kind of a reinvention of the PPP. For now it is only a ripple, not a splash

Mr Bhutto Zardari’s presence in Punjab is essential to any renewal plan the party must follow, but his challenge in Sindh, where his party is in power, is of a different nature. He must reorganise and sympathise and show solidarity in Punjab; in Sindh he must do all these things and then must provide governance as well.

He has to find ways to project himself as an heir who cannot just stir emotions but who can also improvise and use the system to deliver efficiently. The rule has not changed: His delivery in Sindh will help his drive in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, September 21th, 2014

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Newspaper

A difficult story

Rough waters

Politicised football

DESMET

Sep 21, 2014 01:42am

It appears to be normal in Pakistan for any politician to reference 'K' word if they want instant public attention and show how important he is for the country. Mr. Nawas had good start with Mr. Modi. Bilawal's recent statement regarding 'K' is just throwing a stone in a calm wanter.

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javaid

Sep 21, 2014 05:26am

Not worth commenting on a guy who is not even comfortable to keep his father's name & has to add his grand father's last name for some credibility!

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I. Ahmed

Sep 21, 2014 05:38am

How and when this family will vanish from the politics of Pakistan? I just hope we have elections early so that this Bhutto will also become outcast like Rahul Gandhi in India.

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dv1936

Sep 21, 2014 07:01am

By making a dramatic statement about Kashmir he has shown that he avoiding the real internal issues the people are facing today. Pakistan needs a leader who will make the life of a common man better.

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Sep 21, 2014 07:08am

Well, what qualification does Bilawal has other than he is son of a late prime minister and ex president? He will enter into politics because he will have no other qualification to do something with his life. Dawn should not promote the dynasty politics especially when merit or service for people is nowhere to be seen.

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chamari

Sep 21, 2014 07:09am

Very inspiring leader, future of Pakistan is secure in his hands, and the fear he evokes in the heart of his enemies by his speeches is truly extraordinary , i would urge Indian establishment to quickly start the process of separation of kashmir from India and pray for forgiveness and mercy at the hands of Bilawal .

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radon

Sep 21, 2014 07:13am

What a leader and the hope of future for Pakistan , indeed the number of promising leaders cropping up in Pakistan is truly amazing.

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rashid

Sep 21, 2014 07:48am

A pied piper is born.

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Sep 21, 2014 08:57am

@chamari Sarcasm? Ha ha ha!

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hindustani

Sep 21, 2014 10:20am

@rashid Leading the poor Exploited masses of Pakistan deeper into the sea of Poverty, Exploitation, Unrest, Starvation and all the evils that the Modern World is striving to get its citizens out of. Unfortunately, in our Sub Continent, like old ancient Monarchies, our Politicans too have ursurped power and have made Political Dynasties to perpetuate their hold on power, which they have used with the sole purpose of exploiting the masses.

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Ganga Din

Sep 21, 2014 10:54am

They hate Punjab but they all come back to Punjab. I wonder why? PPP's time is up in Punjab. Go fix the problems of Sindh.

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Tariq K Sami

Sep 21, 2014 11:38am

Son of Benazir Bhutto that should be enough. Memories are hard to erase. He resembles her. She was younger and probably braver. He is untested. Looks soft. But speaks with the same passion the voice is the same the urdu is the same tone and timbre. What a sight for sore eyes for PPP Jialas who have languished all these years under Zardari.

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Tariq K Sami

Sep 21, 2014 11:47am

Can some one look at his Palm in the above picture and give a reading. I see his life line joined to the head line for a long time which means he is not going to take risks. On the other hand his heart line also bends towards his head line means he is going to take risks based on what is dear to his heart. A spatula or square hand with full thenar and hypothenar eminence and a long life line is a good thing. The mounts of Jupiter and Saturn and the mount below the career line are prominent and full showing good energy level.

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Sep 21, 2014 12:18pm

@chamari Good humour. Here in London we wonder what this boy has to do with Pakistan. Let him learn Urdu first, spend a few years in Pakistan before he takes on the world. The boy says he will take every inch of Kashmir back. It was never ever Pakistan's in the first place. If he is sying this for publicity only, then Dawn agreat paper is playing into his hands.

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Kamran Rehmat

Sep 21, 2014 12:46pm

Dawn remains wedded to the old romance of PPP where Pakistan has moved on. What this edit betrays is loyal concern for the party of its affection something that sits uncomfortably with the idea of the only above-board outlet of objective journalism in Pakistan today.

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Niddercalling

Sep 21, 2014 12:48pm

PPP leadership has suffered since ZAB was hanged. His sons were killed, BB was first attacked in Karachi when she arrived back and subsequently killed in Pindi. Even today, when i see likes of IK, Qadri or NS giving speeches in large gatherings, sometimes wonder they are not confronted with killers, like PPP leaders. (I am not saying they should be). Why only PPP leaders? Is it because they are more secular than others? Or is it because they are not punjabis? If Bilawal has charms like his mother or grand father; I am sure, he will help the party motivated. But people want somebody who talks of Roti, Kapra and makan. like ZAB used to say. People want inequality to disappear between the dirty rich and hungry millions.

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Sasi

Sep 21, 2014 05:55pm

But ranting on Kashmir Bilawal has taken an insurance policy for protection from the Jihadis.

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Ali Pakistani

Sep 21, 2014 05:55pm

What are Bilawal's credentials to rule us? Why is DAWN treating the issue as if we are a monarchy and Bilawal is the crown prince? In the more aware society,if PPP has to survive as a relevant national party outside Sindh, Bilawal will have to start at the grass roots to become worthy of an office. Sense of entitlement is strong in the ruling classes but the people have waken up and PPP might loose in the long run by treating the party as a fiefdom without giving anything to the masses.

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Zainab

Sep 21, 2014 07:07pm

@I. Ahmed Highly unlikely that the Bhuttos or Zardaris will vanish from political scene in Pakistan - not because they are sincere or love the people, but because they have a rare commodity called "money".

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Zainab

Sep 21, 2014 07:09pm

@chamari Sadly, many of my country men believe that this is what is going to happen !

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Dr-TK

Sep 21, 2014 10:23pm

Another one of those non-entities who is being puffed up by the media to be the next hair-brained leader of this unfortunate country! Welcome Mr. Nobody. You've had some illustrious predecessors from dim-wits to lunatics! You may try your hand at it soon. You might even last if you dont rock the boat too much!!

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Sep 22, 2014 02:50am

People's Party is a spent-up force. It just cannot be revived. The old and corrupst system must go!

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