ISLAMABAD - PPP's Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari ostensibly in a face saving tactic has convinced his son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to at least address Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's death anniversary in London, yet a very limited gathering is being planned due to fear of anti-PPP workers.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's plump no to return in the country, to attend ZAB's death anniversary on April4, has apparently compelled party to arrange a separate function in London to quash the rumors about his (Bilawal) annoyance, PPP's sources told The Nation.
President PPP's overseas chapter Rehman Malik has given a responsibility to arrange a limited 'indoor' function to pay tribute to Zufliqar Ali Bhutto in London, to avoid rumpus of anti-PPP workers.
As PPP's chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a couple of months before, had to face awkward situation in London during a march from 'Trafalgar Square to Downing Street', when anti-PPP workers created rumpus and raised slogans. The crowd had thrown empty plastic bottles and compelled Bilawal not to address the gathering.
Avoiding such a situation, sources said, the party has decided to arrange a small gathering which will be addressed by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
When contacted, Rehman Malik, who is currently in London to arrange the function, confirmed that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would address gathering in London to tribute his grandfather (Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto). "Intellectuals would attend the gathering...Shields would also be distributed among the participants," Malik added.
Bilawal is missing fifth important function related to party due to his alleged annoyance with father (Asif Ali Zardari).  PPP's Chairman is reportedly in UK (London) for last couple of months and he had also missed four important functions. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was reportedly not in picture for allocation of his party's tickets for Senate elections and for the party's ongoing restructuring in Punjab reportedly due to increasing differences with his father Asif Ali Zardari over party affairs.
The internal rifts at party's top level have dealt a severe blow to Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari as young Bilwal has preferred to stay away from major affairs by citing 'security concerns'.
Sources said that party chairman is currently demanding to sideline some 'old' party members and want to run party with young faces. Bilawal, sources said, was also unhappy for allegedly giving some extra powers to his aunt PPP Parliamentary Women Wing President Faryal Talpur to run party affairs. Party's Co-chairman's Asif Ali Zardari, sources said, has also contemplating to give some important responsibilities to Bakhtawar Bhutto and her first likely address at ZAB death anniversary is part of this move.  Zardari, the main speaker at anniversary, is most likely to announce some special announcement about 'Bakhtawar Bhutto' in the coming function at 4April. Sources said that some more party's bigwigs would also not attending the Zulifiqar ali Bhutto's death anniversary due to fast increasing rifts in the party.