Karachi Political Diary

 Karachi  Political Diary

 Mubashir Mir

The Bhutto family once again dominated Pakistan’s political landscape last week. While President Asif Ali Zardari concentrated on the country’s worsening flood crisis and international diplomacy, the younger generation—Fatima Bhutto and her brother Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr.—stepped into the limelight with the announcement of a new political party. This parallel activity underscored two distinct faces of Bhutto politics: statecraft on one side, and reformist idealism on the other.

Zardari and the Flood Crisis

With meteorological warnings of torrential rains in Sindh and southern Punjab, President Zardari directed the administration to remain on high alert. District and tehsil-level officials were instructed to position relief machinery and monitor sensitive water bodies, including the Hub Dam. In solidarity with flood victims, the President stressed that both federal and provincial governments, alongside the armed forces and welfare institutions, must prioritize rehabilitation efforts.

Meeting Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider, he reviewed urgent relief measures for the displaced. These instructions came against the backdrop of staggering losses: over 4,400 villages inundated, more than 4.2 million people affected, and thousands of acres of farmland devastated—destroying standing crops, livestock, and rural infrastructure.

A Diplomatic Venture to China

From September 12 to 21, President Zardari embarked on a rare ten-day official visit to China, covering Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xinjiang. The agenda includes expansion of trade ties, review of CPEC projects, and broader economic cooperation. Analysts describe this unusually long single-country visit as a reflection of Pakistan’s deepening dependence on Beijing, particularly at a time when balancing relations with the West, the United States, China, and Russia requires delicate diplomacy.

The visit carries historic undertones: while Pakistan has inked agreements with Washington for mining projects in Balochistan, it continues to lean on China, which has openly supported Islamabad in past conflicts with India. The message is clear—Pakistan’s future stability hinges on carefully calibrated international alignments, supported by internal political harmony.

Fatima Bhutto’s Cultural and Political Voice

Meanwhile, Fatima Bhutto is emerging as a new intellectual-political force. Along with her brother, Zulfikar Jr., she announced the formation of a new political party independent of the PPP, declaring that today’s People’s Party has drifted from the founding vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Speaking on Pakistan’s cultural identity, Fatima lauded the “poetic” essence of local dramas and warned against copying Bollywood. She argued that Pakistan’s creative industry could establish itself globally if it embraced authenticity. Her words resonated as a call for self-respect in both politics and art, contrasting sharply with the transactional nature of contemporary governance.

The Flood and the IMF Dilemma

At the federal level, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the Finance Ministry to negotiate a one-month waiver on electricity bills for flood-affected areas. While this relief is essential, economists caution that IMF approval will be decisive, raising concerns about sovereignty. Dependence on external lenders often results in strict conditionalities—forcing budget cuts in health, education, and social sectors—at a time when humanitarian needs are greatest.

This tension between immediate relief and long-term economic autonomy reflects Pakistan’s central dilemma: survival today versus sovereignty tomorrow.

Bilawal Bhutto’s Role

Sindh’s Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon praised PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as a “ray of hope” for flood victims. He emphasized Bilawal’s personal concern for the affected communities, noting his visits to central and southern Punjab and Sindh. Bilawal reportedly worked with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and provincial ministers to formulate a rehabilitation strategy, particularly focused on reviving the battered agricultural sector.

Yet, Memon also lamented delays in the federal government’s special relief package under the Benazir Income Support Programme, reminding that the Prime Minister had already assured Bilawal of such aid. He further echoed Bilawal’s criticism of the federal delay in seeking international assistance through the United Nations, calling it “incomprehensible.”

The Human Question in Sindh Politics

Observers point out that Sindh’s politics remains locked in dynastic patterns. Most members of political families, despite foreign education, fail to adopt people-centric politics upon their return. The persistence of corruption stories each year illustrates how little has changed. Genuine transformation, they argue, demands a politics rooted in service and accountability rather than inheritance and patronage.

At a time when millions face homelessness, hunger, and loss of livelihood due to floods, the contrast between political showmanship and human suffering has never been sharper. The test for Pakistan’s leadership—whether Zardari’s statecraft, Bilawal’s populism, or Fatima’s reformist idealism—is whether they can shift politics from power to people.