LONDON, Jan 08 (APP): Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said only fair and free parliamentary elections in Pakistan would ensure stability and integrity of the country. Addressing his maiden press conference in Central London on Tuesday, the teenager confidently fielded questions from a large posse of British and international media and called for respecting his privacy to enable him to continue his studies at Christ Church college in Oxford University.

He said he has been appointed head of the party by the collective decision of the Central Executive Committee and would resume his responsibilities only after completing his studies at the Oxford University.

The 19-year-old son of the assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto admitted that his name was not in the will of his mother, proposing her successor, which she had written weeks before her murder in Rawalpindi on December 27.

Bilawal appreciated the decision of the British government to send a team of Scotland Yard Police to Pakistan to help in the investigation into his mother’s killing but reiterated that an international panel would be more appropriate to look into the circumstances that led to Ms. Bhutto’s death at the hands of assassins.

He appealed to the international community and particularly USA to support popular leadership in order to build stronger democratic institutions.

Bilawal, who was accompanied at the press conference by his aunt Sanam Bhutto, said he had been pushed into leadership of the party merely eight weeks into his studies at the Oxford University and added that it was imperative for him to complete his studies before he plunges wholeheartedly into the rough and tumble of Pakistani politics.

He thanked the international press and the British media for the extensive coverage of the death of his mother.”She was a world figure and received world coverage worthy of her status,” he said.

Bilawal said he had become the PPP Chairman because it was recognised at this moment of crisis that the party needs close association with his mother through the bloodline.”It was important to give hope to the new generation of Pakistanis who look not only to the upcoming elections but beyond as well.”

Saying that politics was in his blood, the youngster said although he admits that his experience was limited he intends to learn.” However, my immediate priority is to return to Oxford to continue my studies. Unless I can finish my education and develop enough maturity I recognise that I will be never in a position to have sufficient wisdom to enter the political arena.”

He said he would step into the chairmanship of the party carefully and gradually while his father runs party together with Makhdum Amin Faheem and other parliamentarians. He said his father Asif Zardari was not standing for a parliamentary seat and will be entirely involved with the party affairs as well as travelling to and from Dubai to be with his young two daughters.

Bilawal said his position as the party head was based on the collective will of the party, unanimously endorsed by 60 members of the Central Executive Committee of PPP representing the four provinces of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

“The importance thing now is for the party to face the challenge of the forthcoming general elections with unity. Since the PPP members and supporters have unanimously accepted my chairmanship so that I can eventually complete the mission of my mother and carry forward her legacy, the continuity of my family’s involvement was considered best.”

Post edited by: admin, at: 2008/01/08 12:52

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