Bhutto's son, husband named to lead party

McClatchy Newspapers ^ | Dec. 30, 2007 | By Saeed Shah and Jonathan S. Landay

[jdm]

NAUDERO, Pakistan — The party of slain former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto tapped her 19-year-old son Sunday as its new chairman, preserving one of Asia's most enduring political dynasties, but it turned real power over to her husband, a one-time businessman dogged by corruption allegations.

The Pakistan Peoples Party also announced that it would contest national parliamentary elections called for Jan. 8. The elections are intended to transition the Islamic insurgency-torn nuclear power from more than eight years of military rule to a civilian democratic government.

Senior leaders of the party, the nation's largest opposition group, made the decisions two days after Bhutto's funeral in an apparent bid to capitalize on the nationwide outpouring of sympathy ignited by her assassination. Many Pakistanis blame U.S.-backed President Pervez Musharraf, who resigned as army chief earlier this month, for her murder.

"My mother always said that democracy is the best revenge," declared Bhutto's son, Bilawal, during a news conference at the family's ancestral home in rural Sindh Province.

The PPP's announcement that it would participate in the election prompted the country's other major opposition group, the Pakistan Muslim League of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to reverse its earlier decision to boycott the contests.

[RightWhale]

Third thread? Fourth thread?

[Moose4]

Typical Eastern tribalism, covered by a thin veneer of “democracy.”

}:-)4

[bjs1779]

"Zardari, who referred to Musharraf's ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q as the "killer league," insisted that she was shot, and confirmed reports that he had prohibited a post-mortem."

Interesting.

[onedoug]

How original.

[Yorlik803]

Should be titled” Bhuttos son named to be next Target”

[G8 Diplomat]

Many Pakistanis blame U.S.-backed President Pervez Musharraf, who resigned as army chief earlier this month, for her murder.

Uh-huh. Never mind that al-Qaida has been trying to kill her since 1992, it's all Musharraf's fault /s

[Rudder]

Typical Eastern tribalism, covered by a thin veneer of “democracy.”

Yeah.

This would be like us installing Bill Clinton's wife as US President.

[G8 Diplomat]

Typical Eastern tribalism

1980-1984: VP G.H.W. Bush

1984-1988 VP G.H.W. Bush

1988-1992: G.H.W. Bush

1992-1996: Bill Clinton

1996-2000: Bill Clinton

2000-2004: G.W. Bush

2004-2008: G.W. Bush

2008-2012: ?Hillary Clinton

2012-2016: ?Hillary Clinton

Who says it's only Eastern?

[bray]

Sounds like he should run for the DNC nomination?? Won’t miss a bribe...

Pray for W and Our Troops

[G8 Diplomat]

Oops, can’t forget the Kennedy dynasty...