Islamabad: Seeking to mend relations with estranged son Bilawal Bhutto, former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari met him in Dubai on Tuesday, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said.
Also, a picture of the meeting was tweeted by the PPP, in a bid to “quell speculations” in the media about Bilawal Bhutto Zardari being sidelined. In the picture, the two are seen posing with smiles in front of a portrait of Bilawal's slain mother and two time PM Benazir Bhutto.
Chairman #PPP @BBhuttoZardari not being sidelined http://t.co/a1TBfG4MVK #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/DQjhSmERK9
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) April 14, 2015
Bilawal too, denied reports of any differences between him and his father after the meeting.
In a statement, PPP chairman Bilawal said, “There are no differences between myself and my father. I am committed to the party’s ideals and goals, and will work with him to reinvigorate the party and it’s message for a changing Pakistan. I will be on the party’s political front line when the time is right”.
However, the statements and the photos don't mean that Bilawal will anytime soon return to Pakistan.
In what appeared to be a desperate attempt to justify Bilawal's stay in Dubai, the PPP said that the Junior Zardari will be “working with the Overseas Pakistanis chapter of the
party”, as the current security environment in Pakistan is difficult for a Bhutto to openly operate.
“Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will be working with senior party leadership on policy issues and re-organization of the party,” said the PPP.
Earlier there were reports that Bilawal was getting death threats from terror group Jundullah.
Zardari and the PPP have been facing a tough time answering questions about the reports of rift between the father-son duo since last year.
Bilawal had last year left Pakistan and settled in London after the differences had cropped up between the two over handling of party affairs.
Zardari had reportedly advised him to tread cautiously and take an active break from politics.
Recently there were alos reports that Zardari wanted to launch his daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto into politics.
