After Bilwal Bhutto, it’s now Bakhtawar and Asifa

Last week I posted a video of Bilwal Bhutto’s speech which had left me speechless. Now there is some confusion added to that state of speechlessness. Benazir Bhutto’s daughters Asifa and Bakhtawar have also delivered public speeches recently.

This ‘speech trio’ has raised two thoughts in my mind. The first is the relevance of speeches for Pakistan’s current political state. In terms of content and connectivity all the three speeches were a flop. The audience applause appears fabricated given its occurrence at most bizarre points during the speeches. It seems highly unlikely that the people of Pakistan would relate to these ‘young leaders’ (though I fail to understand who are they leading, if anyone) speaking with a heavy English accent and dispassionately glorifying their parents.
Second, it appears to me that the speech campaign was choreographed by President Zardari to prove that he is the best of the Bhutto clan at the given moment. The public appeal of the Bhutto family cannot be underestimated in Pakistan. President Zardari has attempted to counter opposition by displaying the caliber, or the lack of it, of the other members of the Bhutto family. Asifa Bhutto’s speech in particular is like a no objection certificate for President Zardari’s leadership.
The three speeches, rather than marking the entry of the young Bhuttos into Pakistani politics was a statement of abdication in favor of their father and President Asif Ali Zardari. All that was lacking was better screenplay to make the dramatization appear somewhat realistic.