NAWABSHAH: The chieftainship of the Zardari tribe was conferred upon Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari at a ceremony held at heavily guarded Zardari House here on Tuesday.

He succeeds his father, Raees Hakim Ali Zardari, who headed the tribe until his death on May 24, 2011.

Notables of seven sub-tribes of the Zardari tribe — Aftab Zardari, Saleh Mohammed Zardari, Noor Mohammed, Khadim Hussain, Gulzar Zardari, Ambh Khan Zardari and Abu Bakar Zardari — performed the heirship ritual called dastarbandi.

Speaking after taking over the chieftainship, Mr Zardari said he was given a heavy responsibility and would do his best to fulfil it most efficiently.

The ceremony was attended by Mr Zardari’s daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari, sisters MNAs Faryal Talpur and Dr Azra Pechuho and around 2,000 notables of the Zardari tribe coming from across Sindh.

In a speech, he asked his tribesmen to educate their children, refrain from indulging in conflicts, forge unity among their ranks and focus on earning their livelihood or jobs, besides paying due attention to farming.

Earlier, Adviser to the Chief Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, PPP district president Ali Akbar Jamali, Aftab Zardari and some other people received Mr Zardari when he, along with his daughter, arrived at Nawabshah airport.

He flew into the Bilawal Sports Stadium by helicopter and inspected the development work going on there. He then walked up to Zardari House amid stringent security arrangements. All approaches to Zardari House were sealed and manned by security personnel during the visit.

The electronic and print media were not allowed to cover the event.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2014