Pakistani Parliamentary Candidate to Carry on Mother's Legacy

A young, the 29-year-old candidate for the People’s Party of Pakistan (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari revealed his plans for the future of the nation if his party takes the majority seats in the coming general elections in July.

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With a progressive stance on labor rights, gender equality, and environmental rights, Bhutto expressed his admiration for his mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s work and his intentions to carry on her legacy.

"This program is the incomplete dream of my mother, Benazir Bhutto," Bhutto said during a press conference in Islamabad, referencing his mother’s tragic assassination during a December rally in 2007. Her dedication to social justice is among the candidate’s primary motivators in this year's run.

"The parliament remained a silent spectator in the time of crisis. The state institutions appear to be at loggerhead," Bhutto said.

The young party chairman continued on to say that he intended to realize his mother’s aspirations by bringing prosperity and youth employment to Pakistan and assuring that state authorities assume their responsibilities to impoverished communities and eradicate hunger and malnutrition.

During the press conference, Bhutto revealed his intentions to initiate a more pro-active foreign policy to highlight human rights abuses in occupied-Kashmir being conducted by Indian forces. Additional plans to address water and healthcare will also be included in the agenda.

"We will ensure harmony in the relationship between masses and state...We have to fulfill the promises of BB (Benazir Bhutto) to save Pakistan," the candidate said with his father, former President Asif Zardari, at his side.

Over 100 million Pakistani citizens will be called to the polls for the general elections on July 25 to determine the 342 members of the National Assembly, the lower chamber of Pakistan’s Parliament. Sixty of these seats will be filled by female candidates, while an additional 10 will represent the region's religious minorities.

Among the other top parties vying for the majority seat in parliament are the presidential party and center-right conservative group, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as well as the third-way, centrist party, Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).