The future of dynastic politics
It sound so cruel to say so soon after the horrific assasination of Benazir Bhutto that events appear twice in history, first time a tragedy second time a farce. The unfortunate death of a brave woman is now acquiring all the trappings of a South Asian dynastic soap opera. The immense groundswell of sympathy for the slain woman is being systematically squandered by the People's Party and its leadership, especialloy her husband, Mr Asif Ali Zardari. There seems to have been a concerted attempt to retain the leadership of the party within the family and this is as I have stated repeatedly the main weakness of south asian political parties; the inability to look beyond the family. The violent death of the leader becomes the very basis for the political legitimacy of such parties and there is always a possibility of the Frazerian moment in such situations.
The son of Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal is only 19 years of age and hardly of an age to step into the dark and violent by ways of South Asian politics. But the first born son is the inheritor and this rule has been followed in India where that relic from the jurrasic park called the Congress Party has named Rahul Gandhi as its chosen leader. The point is the eclectorate has moved beyond dynastic politics and Rahul is actually hurting the party.
Benazir Bhutto's husband will be in effective charge of the party leaving Makhdoom Fahim to run the parliamentary party. The PPP will of course sweep the polls thanks to the blood of Benazir, but it will not be able to contain the violence and as I have predicted the count down to the disintegration of Pakistan has begun.