Bilawal Bhutto succeeds Benazir as PPP Chief

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As the 19 year old Bilawal Bhutto accepts the responsibility of leading his mother Benazir 's party, CNBC-TV18's correspondents Suhasini Haider and Preeti Singh takes a look at what it means for the Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari , the party and the face of the third generation of Bhuttos, Bilawal himself.

It's a large mantle- the mantle of a woman who ruled her country, won elections, took on her enemies and survived in exile before she died the tragedy. Yet the man who's been handed her mantle is just a boy
 
It's not been 3 days since she died - Benazir's son, Bilawal will assume her position in PPP, with the rider his father will keep the throne warm until he's able to accept the crown, arguably a crown of thorns.

In fact, Bilawal was the best bet for PPP's top leadership as it met to read the last will apparently written by Benazir last October. The party's most senior leader Makhdoom Amin Fahin was the most seasoned candidate but he lacked the one quality that the crowds at Bhutto's house demanded. Zardari too had that problem and also faces several corruption charges. In naming his son to the post of Party Chairperson, Zardari has deflected that criticism while ensuring the control of the party remained with him while his 19-year-old son finishes studies at Oxford.

But many may find that hard to believe. In death Benazir has given her husband's political career a new lease of life. Some even wonder about her will, asking just whose wishes it contains.

Meanwhile the Pakistan EC will meet today. The PPP will be contesting the elections scheduled for January 8 and so will Nawaz Sharif's PML-N. But will the Musharraf government hold the polls on time?

That's expected to be decided today as the Pakistan Election Commission meets in Islamabad. Reports suggest the polls might be postponed in the wake of Bhutto's assassination and the violence that followed. Several election commission offices in Sindh, that's Benazir's home province, were set on fire. The poll process has also been halted because of mourning and violence.