Benazir Bhutto's Son Named as Her Successor

Despite his rumoured lack of interest in politics, Bilawal Bhutto, 19, son of the slain Benazir Bhutto, has been handpicked by the leadership of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to succeed his mother as head of the party.

Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, has been named as co-chairman, during a PPP meeting held in Naudero, Pakistan at Mrs. Bhutto's ancestral home. According to Steve Chao,

The issue at the moment is he's very young, he's still on his way to attending Oxford University in England. And there's also concern he himself doesn't want to be the leader.

Despite that, the PPP wanted someone with charisma; the Bhutto name provides symbolic leadership. The PPP says it will participate in the parliamentary election on January 8, despite Benazir Buttho's Thursday assassination. They hope to make the best of the situation by choosing her son and husband as candidates. However, Zardari's selection may prove problematic, with Chao saying:

The husband has a long history of corruption here in Pakistan...He was nicknamed 'Mr. 10 Per Cent' when he was environment minister, skimming a lot of profits government contracts. "There is concern his legacy or his history may taint the party in the upcoming election.

. While Canada, the U.S. and other Western countries want elections to proceed on January 8, Pakistan's election commission will meet on Monday to discuss the election process. The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) party has now said it will contest the January elections if the PPP participates, despite having earlier said it wouldn't take part in the elections. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is a member of the PMLN. And the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, currently the ruling party, said elections would probably be delayed.

How long the postponement will be for will be up to the Election Commission,

said information secretary Tariq Azim.

I think we are looking at a delay of a few weeks...up to three or four months."