Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto's son and Pakistan Peoples Party's heir apparent, Bilawal, will test electoral waters for the first time in 2013 from the party stronghold of Lyari, his father, President Asif Ali Zardari announced on Monday.
Zardari said at a meeting of the PPP coordination committee in Karachi that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will return to Pakistan in September and contest from Lyari in the 2013 general election.
Zardari chaired the meeting held to discuss welfare and development package for the low income Lyari area which has been hit by gang wars in recent times. The meeting was also attended by Sindh province chief minister, Qaim Ali Shah, who discussed the troubled situation in Lyari.
Sindh information minister Sharjeel Memon later told mediapersons that Zardari made the announcement about Bilawal contesting elections from Lyari after some members of the area complained to him about elected members from the area never visiting or interacting with the people.
Memon said: "Bilawal has specifically expressed interest in working with the party's youth wing, which was very dear to the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto".
PPP leader Farahnaz Isphahani said Bilawal is looking at modernising the Peoples Youth Organisation, and bringing in new ideas like media technology through intellectual and practical exercises.
Bilawal, who turns 23 this September, is two years away from being eligible to run for a provincial or national assembly seat.
Having graduated from Oxford University last year, he could emerge as PPP's much-needed progressive voice, given what appears to be his interest in social issues and stance on minorities.
Image: Bilawal Bhutto
