Pak Tea House » Pakistan » A Leader With A Vision
A Leader With A Vision
By Syeda Fizza Batool Gilani
The stage was set and the moment had arrived. It was time to introduce the next generation of Bhutto and Zardari to the world– Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Assefa. Who would have imagined that these children, who had always preferred to stay away from the glitz and paranoia of the dangerous world of politics would one day be entering it albeit, owing to circumstances neither to their liking nor of their own doing.
But it was the tragic and unfortunate assassination of their beloved mother that invoked them to change course and set afoot on a dangerous path trodden with surprises and anguish. While friends of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto say she always envisaged Bilawal becoming her political heir, they agree that she would not have wanted him to have to bear such a burden so young.In an interview in 2004, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was asked if he wanted to enter Pakistani politics. “We will see, I don’t know. I would like to help the people of Pakistan, so I will decide when I finish my studies,” he said. Today, he stood tall being forced into a decision much earlier than he would have imagined then. A person’s character is best judged once he is pitted against odds. Bilawal had to endure the loss of his mother when he so needed her to be around him to pamper him, to love him and to see him grow. Yet he lost it all in the flash of a second. It was at this crucial moment in his life that there emerged a leader out of him in whose voice echoed the words of his mother “democracy is the best revenge”.
All these thoughts resonated through my head and my eyes flooded with tears as I sat in the Presidency on the 18th of July 2009, listening to the magnanimous speech delivered by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s only son and the Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party. The event was attended by the parliamentarians and ticket-holders of Pakistan People’s Party, who had been awarded tickets for the elections by Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto herself in 2007, along with their children and families.This was not the first time that I had met Bilawal, Bakhtawar or Assefa, yet there was something different about Bilawal tonight. This young man standing on the podium, talking to the members of the party, formulated by his grandfather and nourished by his mother had come a long way from the libraries of Christ Church, Oxford. Today, he seemed like an embodiment of perfection, ideally suited to hold the reigns as a true heir to the legend of the party; a people’s man, a true Bhutto.
There were many who had gone to the event with doubtful minds. They wondered as to whether this young lad in his twenties, who did not even reside in this country, could be entrusted with the enormous responsibility of leading the largest political party of this country and in future, the country itself. And this is what he had to say to clear the doubts of one and all. “The Pakistan People’s Party can and will solve all challenges. As the future generation, what can we promise the people of Pakistan? We can promise them that we shall deliver what our older generation has not yet delivered.”There was resolve, commitment, resoluteness but most importantly, there was recognition and acceptance of the fact that promises made had not entirely been fulfilled yet and it was the right of the people of Pakistan to point out the anomalies of the government in addressing the needs of the people. This coming from the chairman of the party that is in government is a big accolade and surely, we Pakistanis are not used to such true self analysis and accountability.On that evening, everybody present there saw Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto come to life again in Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
This young man has the potential, the capability and the courage to lead this party and this country forward. As I listened to Bilawal with tears in my eyes, I felt hope, hope that I had long forgone since the Shahadat of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. It just occurred to me sitting there that this was what Mohtarma meant once she aptly titled her last book ‘Reconciliation’. It is time to reconcile with the fact that the next generation of the Bhuttos is ready, ready to take on from where their predecessors left and when Bilawal says, “Khoon chaihay, khoon dein gay; sir chahiyay, sir dein gay, jaan chahiyay, jaan dein gay,” you know that this young man really means it because his name ‘Bilawal’ means “one without equal”.
The writer is the daughter of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani
Filed under: Pakistan · Tags: Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir, Bhutto, Bilawal, Dynastic politics, Pakistan, PPP, Yusuf Raza Gilani, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
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Dear Fizza,
I’ve posted this article here … not because this shameless exercise in sycophancy has any merit but because I remember you from my childhood (though you may not remember me because upstarts and their children like me are generally inconspicuous amongst the elite) … we went to school at Bloomfield Hall. So why would I want to put it up? Nostalgia? No.
You see when we were kids together at Bloomfield Hall school near Mini-Market in Lahore, my parents were confirmed PPP voters, supporters and even activists to a certain degree which my father remained till his dying day. Your father – if you recall- was a minister in Zia’s government like any blue blooded feudal from South Punjab. Now this is very ironic won’t you say… especially after the way you’ve waxed eloquent about Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and what not.
You may not have realized it or if you did perhaps this is an attempt to circumvent the circumstances from a loving daughter, but your father is on a collision course with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s father and the presidency. Have you considered how you might explain this article tomorrow when your father is in the opposing camp?
Your lot represents all that is wrong with Pakistan. It would be too cruel to remind you that the only real leader this country had – Mr. Mahomed Ali Jinnah- was a self made man who rose not on clutches of his father but purely on his own genius. By the time he was done, people like your grandfather were kissing his upstart hand (ofcourse you guys also claim that your family converted Jinnah’s great grandfather to Islam- a nonsensical claim I might add).
Unfortunately god did not give Jinnah the chance to rid Pakistan of the toadies and feudal types who had tagged along for a ride. And so we have you – the daughter of a feudal prime minister writing praises of a third rate undergrad from Oxford who – had it not been for his mother- would not get into ElCamino Community College in California.
Meanwhile, I, Yasser Latif Hamdani, middle class, upstart and without any lands, also the true heir of Mahomed Ali Jinnah’s real political legacy and 10 times the man that Bilawal Zardari will ever be, sadly will never get a chance to rule this country. You see the irony in that Fizza?
Shame on you for writing this article.
Your friend in KG, Prep 1 and Prep 2,
Yasser Latif Hamdani
[...] is an interesting riposte to Fiza Batool’s article written at Pak Tea House by the lawyer and pundit Yasser Latif [...]
Another zulfi? God save the half of Pakistan remaining!
I honestly would like to commend Yasser Hamdani Bhai on his his reply to Ms. Batool Gilani’s letter. With all due respect, she needs to respond to it in a manner that makes sense and answer questions and what was asked of her.
As said by Mr. Yasser Latif “shame of you for writing article”……needs to be further elaborated on by her, but then maybe she will not. Just because her father is the current PM is no reason to be all praise for AZ’s son. By the way when did Bilawal learn to give speeches, and was the speech in Urdu or English?
I honestly would like to commend Yasser Hamdani Bhai on his his reply to Ms. Batool Gilani’s letter. With all due respect, she needs to respond to it in a manner that makes sense and answer questions and what was asked of her.
As said by Mr. Yasser Latif “shame on you for writing this article”……needs to be further elaborated on by her, but then maybe she will not. Just because her father is the current PM is no reason to be all praise for AZ’s son. By the way when did Bilawal learn to give speeches, and was the speech in Urdu or English?
Yasser Latif Hamdani …even though i do not agree with everything you write, i wish there were more of you in Pakistan …
but if there were, we would not be where we r today … ‘willed’ over as a personal fiefdom from mother to son… and father to daughter…
Yet … it has to be remembered that anyone who diverges from the ‘norm’ is abnormal … since sycophancy IS the norm in Pakistan i guess the author of this article is a very ‘normal’ Pakistani ….
and you Sir diverge from the ‘norm’…
The article was complete bull-speak.
YLH’s reply took the gold though. It seems that we haven’t even reached the point of having actual intellectuals holding up Pakistan’s political structure…if Bilawal wins, it’ll be a new generation of legacy babies, strung tight by puppeteers.
Does this kid even have a treatise out, or have any idea what “democracy is the best revenge” means?
I’ve become even more pessimistic after reading this. How can we contribute to a change in this whole money-mommy and daddy paid for my status-political rule?
Excellent rebuttal by Mr Yasser Latif Hamdani,I appreciate your comments.I totally agree with you.
But,irony of the fate is, that in this land of pure majority of people are illiterate,for them people like Bilawal and other feudal landlords are still heroes.We the minority in this country cannot bring the change,which we desperately need now.
The change can only be brought, if some how we are able to change the existing system of electorate in our country, under the present system a vote of a scholar and that of an illiterate is equal.Thus these feudal landlords come in power not through the vote of literate people but through the majority of illiterates.
To continue Irfan’s thought … and THAT is why the feudals etc are quite happy with the rate of literacy as it stands. you see what ‘upstarts’ can do when they are educated!…;)
Yasser has nailed it once again. I went to school with the privileged, pampered and blase children of Pakistan’s ‘feudal lords’. Surprise, they turned out just like their parents. After what their kind has done to the country, their flag-waving, rah-rah patriotism is all the more nauseating. Shame on Fizza and her ilk.
I am saddened by the thought that the youth of Pakistan is so immature. I have never heard of Batool Gillani nor I am aware of any leadership qualities of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. As far as the poltical foresight and experience is concered, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari might be in a process of changing his wet nappies. Its amazing that Batool Gillani has such deep laser like vision that she has been able to see the”Vision of the great Future Leader”just judging the wet nappies.God Save Pakistan.
Irfan,
The solution is not to limit franchise but to extend literacy … ofcourse that is easier said then done.
The problem with Pakistan is that while it was created entirely as a result of the nascent Muslim middle class and its political and economic ambitions, no political party today fully expresses that sentiment or gives room to this middle class …
The result is that every 10 years or so you have a military dictator in power – primarily because the Army itself is led by middle class of Pakistan.
Ofcourse… the fact that Army takes control itself is a problem… because it stunts political evolution and when the Army leaves you have the same jokers who should have been voted out a long time ago.
The solution to all our problems is evolution and more democracy. Ofcourse for people like us this means no political relevance in the next 50 or 60 years.
I, Yasser Latif Hamdani, middle class, upstart and without any lands, also the true heir of Mahomed Ali Jinnah’s real political legacy and 10 times the man that Bilawal Zardari will ever be, sadly will never get a chance to rule this country. You see the irony in that Fizza?
I feel Ur pain……
Cheap Article….with Cheap Rebuttal
Fizza’s article is nothing more like putting butter as an opportunist to fit herself in the group of selfish people called ‘Toadies of Pakistan’ in coming days if possible. Simply, it is another addition in toadies group who are sucking & abusing the people of Pakistan for 62 years. Their brought up, education, thinking, interests, life styles etc all are western but slogans or lip service only affixed with poor Pakistanis – what a shame? Hippocratic way of life and nothing else???
What a great idea – Pakistan’s fate depends in the hand of Bilawal; a 22 years boy will be shepherd of 160 millions people. Why this happens because rest of all has become important – Is it true???
Fizza’s article is nothing more like putting butter as an opportunist to fit herself in the group of selfish people called ‘Toadies of Pakistan’ in coming days if possible. Simply, it is another addition in toadies group who are sucking & abusing the people of Pakistan for 62 years. Their brought up, education, thinking, interests, life styles etc all are western but slogans or lip service only affixed with poor Pakistanis – what a shame? Hippocratic way of life and nothing else???
What a great idea – Pakistan’s fate depends in the hand of Bilawal; a 22 years boy will be shepherd of 160 millions people. Why this happens because rest of all has become impotent – Is it true???
“Cheap rebuttal”
Yaar what do you expect from an upstart middle classia like me who as you’ve pointed out on numerous occasions is a “political orphan”.
For high quality stuff go to Shaheryar’s blog. I don’t even know why you visit this website- entrenched pushtun nationalist that you are.
@yasserlatifhamdani
You are absolutely right, that we need to extend literacy not to limit the franchise,but in my opinion, as a stop gap arrangement, we first need to change the electoral system,in order to elect true representatives of people,who are themselves educated and those who can who can focus their energies in enhancing literacy rate in Pakistan.Till the time these feudals are in power,change will never come as they would never like that people get educated in this country….then they will not get elected
I wish to write some comments, but Latif Hamdani is quite impressive. no need for further comments, but I would say, since I have read this article by Fizza, I was afraid, I would pass some comments, which otherwise I would regret later. And still I think, Mr Hamdani used quite a mild language.
Although the thoughts of Ms. Fiza took me to some depression, but it was quite an immense pleasure to read all the comments coming up next. Although, as someone pointed it out, the off-springs of the feudals turn out to be just like their dads, but still I would mention that the awareness (put by all honest opinion makers above) is on increasing trend.. such cunning truth could not be imagined, lets say, 10 years back… thats why I hope insha-Allah one day we ll be having leaders like Mr. Hamdani, and not the ones living in Big n high palaces now…
Ayaz Amir, the favourite writer and PML-N, MNA wrote in his article in Jang:
“yeh article parh’nay ki cheez hai. es mazmoon ma bilawal bhutto zardari ki aisi aisi khoobian batai gai hain jin ka shaid mosoof ko khud b pata na ho aor mazmoon bandhtay hue aisi zubaan estammal ki gai hai jo na sirf bilawal balkay kisi k gaalooon ko b gulnaar kr sakti hai”
check out the intresting reviews…http://news-revuez.blogspot.com/
As a patriotic Indian I must protest at the praise heaped on Fizza. Our sycophants are as good if not better, but they haven’t the language skills; at least not in English.
If the lady was not set up (and even if she was) she deserves every one of the compliments paid her above. This is the old reprise of feudal politics. The daughter keeps up with fils while the father builds his career tripping pere.
Has a copy been sent to Bilawal? Rahul Gandhi, heir to five generations of flattery would probably be embarrassed by such devotion.
Honestly, I cannot imagine such a frank, in your face appraisal of a piece like Fizza’s in the Indian media. It says something for Pakistan.
@Hayyar48
For some time now, I have had the sinking feeling that the Pakistani media are more direct and critical than ours. I really can’t understand this.
Salam,
I say those shamefull who wrote against Bhutto family.
Bhutto family is real leader of Pakistan.
I appriciate fizza.
PAKISTAN ZINDABD
BHUTTOISM PAINDABAD
03332697545
Sajjad Chandio,
Mian Bhutto naam karwa kay aye thay kiya?
original post seems to be “ghost written” possibly by one of the fat cat columnists.YLH demolition job is as usual~Dilse~ and brilliant.
the sycophant including his phone no. just to make sure that he is not confused with some other sycophant with the same name. attention to this little detail from a humble (aspiring to be a) servant is quite amusing.