Pakistan - Benazir Bhutto's Son Bilawal Accepts The Chairmanship of PPP

(30 Dec 2007)
548852
AP TELEVISION
Naudero - 30 Dec 2007
(Video quality as incoming)
1. Wide of Benazir Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari and Bhutto's son Bilawal entering news conference
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bilawal Zardari, son of assassinated PPP politician Benazir Bhutto:
"And I stand committed to the stability of the federation. My mother always said democracy is the best revenge."
3. SOUNDBITE: (Urdu) Asif Ali Zardari, husband of assassinated PPP politician Benazir Bhutto:
"She knew that she was in a lot of danger. Despite the danger, she went ahead and fought the enemies of Pakistan. Eventually she gave her life for the country."
STORYLINE:
Benazir Bhutto's 19-year-old son was chosen on December 30th to succeed her as chairman of her opposition party, while her husband will serve as co-chairman, extending Pakistan's most famous political dynasty to another generation, party officials said.
The party also decided to contest upcoming elections, apparently ending the threat of a wholesale boycott by Pakistan's political opposition as the key US-ally in its war on terror struggles to transition to full democracy after years of military rule.
The decisions were made at a closed-door meeting of the Pakistan Peoples Party central executive committee, three days after the two-time prime minister was assassinated in a suicide attack.
Bilawal Zardari, a student with no experience in politics, said he would remain at Oxford University to finish his studies, leaving his father, Asif Ali Zardari, who was officially designated co-chairman, as the effective leader of the country's largest political party.
"The party's long and historic struggle for democracy will continue with renewed vigour," he told a news conference. "My mother always said democracy is the best revenge."
Supporters chanted "Benazir, princess of heaven" and "Bilawal, move ahead. We are with you."
Bilawal said that Zardari would "take care" of the party while he continued his studies.
"As we know the chairmanship is a position which is often occupied by martyrs and we do not know how long he would be able to do it. While I'm at university, he will take control. After my return, I will take control,'' Bilawal said.
Zardari then told reporters to direct questions at him, saying his son was at a "tender age."
Zardari, who spent eight years under detention on corruption charges in Pakistan before his release in late 2004, is a key powerbroker in the party who served as environment minister in Bhutto's second government.
He has denied the charges of large-scale graft during his wife's rule.
He immediately announced the group's participation in the elections but said that another party leader, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, would likely be their candidate for prime minister if they won.
Zardari appealed to the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to drop plans to boycott the polls - planned for January 8 but anticipated by many to be delayed following the assassination.
''Our party candidates will participate in the election and we are very thankful to Nawaz Sharif who boycotted the election after the Mohtarma's martyrdom and now we appeal to him not to boycott and come with us,'' Zardari said.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...