'Angry' Bilawal skips Benazir death anniversary

For the first time since his mother's assassination in 2007, Bilawal stayed out of Pakistan on her death anniversary, reportedly due to differences with his father Asif Ali Zardari.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, refused to return to Pakistan to attend his mother and assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's death anniversary on Saturday reportedly due to differences with his father Asif Ali Zardari. (file photo)

Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stayed away from Pakistan as his mother and former premier Benazir’s death anniversary was observed across the country on Saturday, giving credence to reports that he is having serious differences with his father Asif Ali Zardari.

Although PPP co—chairman Zardari had gone to London to persuade his ‘angry’ son to return home so that he could attend the anniversary event in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on Saturday, he did not succeed.

There has been no word from Bilawal about his skipping the anniversary. For the first time since Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in 2007, her son preferred to stay out of the country on his mother’s death anniversary.

Although the PPP has cited “security concerns” but Bilawal’s absence has led to widespread speculation about his differences with his father over party affairs.

“Asif Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto had developed differences over the party’s affairs. Bilawal appointed Jehangir Badar and Bashir Riaz as his political adviser and press secretary without consulting Zardari,” a PPP leader said.

Although Zardari did not oppose the choice, he told his son that he would be given a free hand to run the party affairs only after he was fully groomed, the leader said.