ISLAMABAD (AP) ― The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has launched his political career with a fiery speech on the fifth anniversary of his mother’s assassination.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s speech Thursday comes several months before national elections are expected to be held. He is too young to participate in the elections himself, but is likely to be a key asset for the ruling Pakistan People’s Party.

Zardari was made party chairman after his mother’s death but has mainly played a background role as he completed his studies in the United Kingdom. His father, President Asif Ali Zardari, is co-chairman of the party.

Father and son spoke before thousands of cheering supporters in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh village in southern Sindh province, site of the Bhutto family mausoleum.