Bilawal Bhutto Chooses Asif Zardari for Presidential Slot: PPP’s Strategic Move

Islamabad, Pakistan — In a significant political development, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced on Tuesday that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has chosen Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari as their candidate for the presidential slot. The decision underscores the party’s commitment to constitutional positions and their right to field candidates for key leadership roles.

Addressing a press conference following a two-day-long Central Executive Committee meeting, Bilawal Bhutto expressed his support for his father, Asif Ali Zardari, stating, “I am not saying this because he is my father. I am saying this because the country is in a huge crisis at the moment, and if anyone can douse this fire, it is Asif Ali Zardari”. The PPP chairman emphasized that constitutional positions, including the presidency, Senate Chairman, and National Assembly (NA) speaker, were their rightful prerogative.

However, Bilawal Bhutto ruled out the possibility of the PPP joining any coalition government. He clarified that while the party would vote for the prime ministerial candidate from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), they would sit in opposition. “The PPP has decided that we are unable or not in a position to join the federal government ourselves, nor are we interested in taking ministries in such a setup,” he asserted. The reality is that the PPP lacks the mandate to form a government at the center, and the PML-N remains the only party that invited them to join the government. “We don’t want to see chaos in the country or perpetual crisis,” Bilawal Bhutto added, explaining their decision to support the PML-N’s candidate for the premiership.

In summary, Asif Ali Zardari’s nomination as the PPP’s presidential candidate reflects the party’s strategic approach to constitutional roles, while Bilawal Bhutto’s commitment to opposition ensures political stability during these critical times.