For instance, PPP workers are still not sure who their party’s leader is.
Even though Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was made party chairman soon after Benazir’s tragic death, he remained away from the political circus because of his studies. In his absence, his father, Asif Ali Zardari, took control of the party and pulled all the strings.
But the confusion started sometime in late 2008 – a few months before Benazir’s first death anniversary.
During PPP’s government, the courts asked Zardari to choose between the country’s presidency and co-chairmanship of PPP. While a prudent step would have been to opt for one position and leave the other completely, we saw how Zardari and the new version of PPP made a complete mess out of everything. The party first defended his right to remain co-chairperson and then changed its stance completely stating that Bilawal was to head the party while Zardari would occupy the presidency.
The presidency was dearer to Zardari than his own party.
Because of this inconsistency, PPP workers remain unsure as to who their leader actually is.
While some party-workers still consider Zardari as party head, there are others who find the phrase ‘Aik Zardari sub pe bhari’ (One Asif Zardari is more than enough for everyone) most suited to the ex-president of the country.
PPP workers do not have the same bond with Zardari that they had with Benazir. And how can they? Unlike Benazir, Zardari is never seen in public, participating with the masses or mingling with them. During his five years as president, he remained confined to the presidency, with no physical contact with his workers whatsoever. In Bilawal’s absence and Zardari’s ignorance, it was Faryal Talpur who took control of and managed all party affairs. While she was not the chairperson of PPP, she had all the power she needed to do whatever she wanted – which was something even Benazir didn’t have.
This brings us to another difference clearly seen in the post-Benazir PPP era; the role of the central executive committee (CEC) has greatly diminished. In the past, we remember how, for certain matters, Benazir had to contact her party’s CEC to discuss and present a consensual decision. We have seen, dozens of times, how her party office bearers had to travel to Dubai and London to attend meetings for important party-related issues. But for the last seven years, PPP’s CEC only meets on December 27th and passes a resolution endorsing complete confidence in Zardari. Except this, the CEC neither has any role in the party affairs nor does the leadership take them into confidence. Especially at the provincial level, it is Talpur who makes all the calls and takes every decision – often without consulting any other leader.
