Bilawal skips Benazir's death anniversary

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 yesterday, 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.

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.

Banazir Bhutto was murdered on 27th of December, 2007 by terrorists in Rawalpindi while she was returning from a public meeting during 2008 general elections campaign. In a message on the 7th anniversary, Asif Ali Zardari said the nation today seemed more united than ever before in its determination to exterminate the militants.