Newly appointed Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman and husband of assassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari said on Sunday that the PPP wants to contest the general elections on January 8.

In a press conference in Naudero, he called on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif not to boycott the polls. “We are thankful to the PML-N for announcing to boycott the elections but we ask them to end the boycott and contest the elections, so as not to leave the field open for the PML-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q),” Zardari said.

The decision to participate in the polls was made earlier in a closed-door meeting of the party’s central executive committee (CEC). Party officials told reporters that Benazir’s 19-year-old son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, had been appointed the new PPP chairman. “It has been decided that Bilawal will be the chairman and Mr Zardari will be co-chairman,” a party official said.

Successor in will: PPP Vice Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim said Benazir had named Zardari as her successor in her will, adding that since Zardari had excused himself, Bilawal was named chairman following the party’s CEC meeting.

He said he was not contesting the polls and would not become the prime minister if the PPP won. He said Benazir had nominated Fahim for the position, adding that the party would now make any decision concerning this.

When asked to show Benazir’s handwritten will, Zardari refused, saying members of the CEC had read it and acknowledged it to be Benazir’s handwriting.

Party ‘caretaker’: Bilawal Zardari, a student with no experience in politics, said he would remain at Oxford University, leaving his father, Asif Ali Zardari, as the effective leader of the country’s largest political party, reported AP.

“The party’s long struggle for democracy will continue with renewed vigour,” Bilawal told a news conference. “My mother always said democracy is the best revenge.”

Bilawal said that Zardari would “take care” of the party while he continued his studies.

Zardari said Benazir’s sister, Sanam Bhutto, “was consulted before the final approval of Bilawal’s chairmanship”.

Zardari said he had seen the wound on Benazir’s neck, which was clearly the wound caused by a bullet. Whatever the government has said about the reason for her death is baseless, he said. He added that he had denied the Pakistani government permission to conduct an autopsy, saying he had lived in the country “long enough to know” how it would have been handled.

“I was with her the first time she took the prime ministerial oath,” Zardari said. She had said, “I have taken the revenge of my father.” The time has now come to revenge the killing of Benazir, he said.

“I appeal to all people to vote for PPP candidates and teach the PML-Q a lesson,” Zardari said. He added that his party’s struggle was not against the country’s military but against those who were playing negative politics. - [via DailyTimes]

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