Question:
In December 27, 2012, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of Pakistani President Zardari, officially announced his entry into Pakistani politics. Please clarify the reason for this timing to enter politics and whether it is connected to the Pakistani general elections in 2013.
Answer:
1- The political landscape in Pakistan and the Indian subcontinent is dominated by wealthy families that have been involved in dynastic politics since the early days of independence from British rule. These families have dominated political life in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh with the support of major powers such as Britain and America, and these families have considered ruling these countries as an inherent right. Therefore, it is not surprising to find the political scene in Pakistan dominated by the Bhutto family or the Sharif brothers, just as the political scene in India was dominated by the Gandhi family, and political life in Bangladesh is ruled by the families of Ziaur Rahman and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bilawal's mindset was formed on this basis. Regarding his participation in Pakistani politics, he takes it as a means to continue the legacy of his maternal grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the father of Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal's mother. Bilawal has referred to this political legacy several times, and therefore he wishes to preserve it. In a speech during the ceremony marking the anniversary of his mother's death, he said, "The Pakistan Peoples Party is not just a political party; it is our life."
2- Foreign powers and their intelligence agencies spend a great deal of time and effort in the Indian subcontinent to cultivate and win over members of these political dynasties to rule on their behalf. This is one of the preferred methods of the major powers for hegemony and control—namely, through political dynasties. When any member of these families expires or becomes useless, or when they oppose the desires of their masters, those powers quietly retire or kill them. As for the Bhutto family, members have been killed or assassinated in the struggles between Britain and America for control over the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Thus, it is not surprising to see Britain and America encouraging and courting Bilawal to follow in the footsteps of his mother or grandfather.
3- Another factor in Bilawal's official announcement is the strengthening of the Pakistan Peoples Party, which has significantly weakened and lost credibility due to numerous corruption scandals, incompetence, and nepotism. These scandals have greatly damaged Zardari's popularity and reduced the PPP's ability to launch an effective campaign for the general elections scheduled for later this year. Therefore, the young Bilawal was encouraged to participate in political work to restore the party's traditional values with the party's base of disgruntled voters. In many ways, this is similar to what happened with Rahul Gandhi when he tried to raise the standing of the Indian Congress Party a few years ago. It should also be remembered that due to Bilawal's young age, he is unable to contest the upcoming general elections; therefore, his role is more symbolic than real and marks the beginning of a long journey of political grooming.
4- However, perhaps the most important factor in Bilawal's announcement is that America desperately needs new faces untainted by scandals and corruption to participate in political life in Pakistan. The political class in Pakistan consists of corrupt and incompetent politicians who are unable to represent the interests of their constituencies. With Imran Khan's entry into the political arena in 2011 and Bilawal's entry in 2012, America seeks to address the feeling of resentment toward current politics that has intensified in the country.
In conclusion, Bilawal's entry into the political scene in Pakistan is to provide a boost to some PPP cadres before the upcoming general elections and to begin the journey of political grooming. Nevertheless, America faces formidable obstacles in finding new faces for the political scene due to anti-American sentiment and the renewed political awakening among the people. For this reason, American efforts were directed toward strengthening Imran Khan's position, which made people see Imran Khan as America's man because of American support for him and his being surrounded by many American agents to ensure the maintenance of American hegemony in Pakistan. Therefore, it is likely that Bilawal will be viewed in the same way as his father Zardari, if not worse.