Aseefa Bhutto Zardari

Last updated
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari
آصفہ بھٹو زرداری
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, ca. June 2019.jpg
Aseefa in 2019
First Lady of Pakistan
Assumed role
16 April 2024
Alma mater Oxford Brookes University
University College London

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari (born 3 February 1993) is a Pakistani politician who is the current First Lady of Pakistan and a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. She is the youngest daughter of Asif Ali Zardari, the current President of Pakistan, and Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Contents

Early life and education

Aseefa was born to Asif Ali Zardari, and his wife, Benazir Bhutto, on 3 February 1993 in London. [1] [2] She was the first child in Pakistan to be vaccinated against polio on the country's first National Immunisation Day, after her mother, then Prime Minister Bhutto, launched a major immunization drive in 1994. [1] The Prime Minister, personally administered the drops to Aseefa, as an endorsement of the campaign. [3]

She earned her bachelor's degree in politics and sociology from Oxford Brookes University and master's degree in global health and development from University College London in July 2016. [1] [4]

Career

In October 2009, her father, Asif Ali Zardari who was then the President of Pakistan, appointed Aseefa as a Pakistan's ambassador for the national polio eradication campaign. [5] [6] Her role as polio eradication ambassador in Pakistan has made her a familiar face to the general masses compared to her siblings. During her tenure as an ambassador, Aseefa conducted campaigns to eradicate the disease, engaged with officials, and visited families affected by Polio. [7] [8] In 2013, she was honored with a commemorative plaque by Rotary International for her efforts in the fight against polio. [9]

At the age of 21, she became the youngest Pakistani to address the Oxford Union. [10]

She made her political debut on November 30, 2020, at a rally in Multan. [10] [11] In 2022, during a PPP procession in Khanewal, she suffered minor injuries after being hit by a media drone. [7]

In June 2013, then President Asif Ali Zardari disclosed that his three children, Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Aseefa, would lead the PPP once he completed his presidential term on 9 September 2013. Although he mentioned all three of his children, many party leaders believed that Aseefa might take on a more prominent role compared to her elder siblings. There was a perception among them that Zardari considered Aseefa to be more politically astute than Bilawal and Bakhtawar. It was also observed that Aseefa actively engaged in party affairs and was often seen alongside her father, unlike Bilawal, whom Zardari hoped would take on a more active role. [8]

In May 2017, reports emerged indicating that in addition to Bilawal, Aseefa would also enter the electoral race in the 2018 Pakistani general election. Her participation was anticipated due to her active involvement in various social and political debates and issues over time. [12] Ahead of the 2018 election, the PPP suggested Aseefa's name for contesting from either the NA-248 (Karachi West-I) or NA-223 (Matiari) constituency. [13]

During the 2024 Pakistani general election, Aseefa played a pivotal role in the PPP's campaign, leading rallies in support of her brother Bilawal, who was the party's prime ministerial candidate. [11]

On March 10, 2024, following the 2024 Pakistani presidential election, Asif Ali Zardari was sworn in as the 14th President of Pakistan. He announced the recognition of Aseefa as the First Lady of Pakistan, [14] marking a significant deviation from his previous presidency (2008-2013), during which the position of the First Lady remained vacant after the assassination of his wife Benazir Bhutto. [11] [14] This decision marked the first time in Pakistan's history that the president's daughter, rather than his spouse, would hold the title of First Lady. [10]

Parliamentary career

On 17 March 2024, she announced her entry into electoral politics by submitting nomination papers to contest the by-election for the National Assembly seat from constituency NA-207 Nawabshah-I as a candidate of the PPP. This seat became vacant after her father, Asif Ali Zardari, who won the seat in the 2024 election, was elected as President of Pakistan. [15] [16]

A total of eleven candidates submitted nomination papers to contest the by-election in the constituency, with the majority being workers and office bearers of the PPP , who were viewed as covering candidates for Aseefa. [17] On 29 March, she was elected unopposed to the National Assembly from the NA-207 constituency as the nomination papers of other candidates were either withdrawn in her favor or rejected. [18] Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed that the nomination papers of its candidate, Ghulam Mustafa Rind, were unjustly rejected, followed by his arbitrary arrest by the police. [19] PTI also alleged that Ghulam Mustafa Rind was coerced into withdrawing his nomination. [20]

She was sworn in as a member of the National Assembly on 15 April 2024. [21] On 16 April, she was granted the status of the First Lady of Pakistan. [22]

Subsequently, Ghulam Mustafa Rind lodged a petition with the Sindh High Court (SHC) to contest Aseefa's victory, alleging that despite being a candidate in the election, his nomination papers were unfairly dismissed and that he was unlawfully arrested by the Sakrand police. [23]

In May 2024, her name surfaced in a data leak disclosing her ownership of properties in Dubai. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan People's Party</span> Social-democratic political party in Pakistan

The Pakistan People's Party is a centre-left political party in Pakistan. It is currently the first-largest party in the Senate and third-largest party in the National Assembly. The party was founded in 1967 in Lahore, when a number of prominent left-wing politicians in the country joined hands against the military rule of president Muhammad Ayub Khan, under the leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. It is affiliated with the Socialist International. The PPP's platform was formerly socialist, and its stated priorities continue to include transforming Pakistan into a social-democratic state, promoting egalitarian values, establishing social justice, and maintaining a strong military. The party, alongside the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, is one of the three largest political parties of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asif Ali Zardari</span> President of Pakistan since 2024

Asif Ali Zardari is a Pakistani politician serving as the 14th president of Pakistan since 10 March 2024. He is the president of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians and was the co-chairperson of Pakistan People's Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians</span> Political party in Pakistan

The Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) is a Pakistani political party and an electoral extension of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). It was created in 2002 by Amin Fahim after Pervez Musharraf's military dictatorship imposed restrictions on the PPP and its chairperson Benazir Bhutto to participate in Pakistani politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murtaza Bhutto</span> Pakistani politician

Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto was a Pakistani politician and leader of al-Zulfiqar, a Pakistani left-wing militant organization. The son of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, he earned a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a master's degree from the University of Oxford. Murtaza founded al-Zulfiqar after his father was overthrown and executed in 1979 by the military regime of General Zia-ul-Haq. In 1981, he claimed responsibility for the murder of conservative politician Chaudhry Zahoor Elahi, and the hijacking of a Pakistan International Airlines airplane from Karachi, during which a hostage was killed. In exile in Afghanistan, Murtaza was sentenced to death in absentia by a military tribunal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhutto family</span> Pakistani political family

The Bhutto family is a Pakistani political family. The Bhuttos have played a prominent role in Pakistani politics and government. The family has held the leadership of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), since its inception in 1967. The Bhuttos have been settled in Sindh for over three centuries.

Farhatullah Babar is a Pakistani leftist politician, engineer and former senator. He is a prominent member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), having served as a spokesperson for the party. He is a supporter of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ameen Faheem</span> Pakistani politician

Makhdoom Muhammad Ameen Faheem was a Pakistani populist left-wing figure and a poet. He was the senior vice-chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party, chairman of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians and former chairman of Alliance for Restoration of Democracy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Pakistani general election</span>

General elections were held in Pakistan on 18 February 2008 to elect members of the 13th National Assembly and the four Provincial Assemblies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilawal Bhutto Zardari</span> Pakistani politician (born 1988)

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a Pakistani politician who served as the 37th Minister of Foreign Affairs, in office from 27 April 2022 to 10 August 2023. He became the chairman of Pakistan People's Party in 2007, following his mother's assassination. Bilawal belongs to the Bhutto family, a prominent political family of Pakistan and is the son of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari, and the grandson of former President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Bilawal had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 13 August 2018 till 10 August 2023. He re-elected as Member National Assembly of Pakistan in 2024 Pakistani general election from newly formed constituency NA-194 Larkana-I taken oath February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faisal Karim Kundi</span> Pakistani politician

Faisal Karim Kundi is a Pakistani politician who is currently serving as the 35th Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in office since 4 May 2024. Previously, he held the position of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety in federal cabinet under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Azra Fazal Pechuho is a Pakistani politician who was the Provincial Minister of Sindh for Health, and Population Welfare, in office from August 2018 till August 2023. She had been a member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh from August 2018 till August 2023. She was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan, from 2002 to May 2018.

The Zardari family is a Pakistani political family which currently holds the chieftaincy of the Sindhi-Baloch Zardari tribe. It owns thousands of acres of land in the Sakrand Taluka, Shaheed Benazirabad District, Sindh, especially in the Fatohal Zardari and Balu Ja Quba villages. The family heads the Zardari tribe, which is a Sindhi-Baloch.

Faryal Talpur is a Pakistani politician who had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 2008 to May 2018 and a member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh from August 2018 till August 2023, as well as the President of the Women Wing of the Pakistan People's Party.

Fauzia Wahab, was a Pakistani politician who served as the senior ex officio member and the secretary-general of the central executive committee of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Pakistani presidential election</span> Presidential election

An indirect presidential election was held on 6 September 2008 in Pakistan. The Electoral College of Pakistan – a joint sitting of the Senate, National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies – elected a new president after the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf. As required by the constitution, Muhammad Mian Soomro automatically became acting president on 18 August 2008, upon the resignation of Musharraf. The constitution required that a new president be elected by Parliament within 30 days; Soomro was considered loyal to Musharraf, and it was considered certain that he would be replaced in that election.

Safdar Ali Abbasi is a Pakistani politician and physician. He is a former senator and the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party Workers (PPP-W).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Pakistani general election</span>

General elections were held in Pakistan on 3 February 1997 to elect the members of National Assembly. The elections were a fierce contest between Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by pre-election Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) led by Nawaz Sharif. Unlike the 1990 elections where Sharif won due to allegations of rigging, this time he benefited from the controversial death of Bhutto's brother Murtaza, a populist leader, a worsening economy, and alleged corruption cases against Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Makhdoom Shahabuddin</span> Pakistani minister and National Assembly member

Makhdoom Shahabuddin is a Pakistani politician and was a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan who has held federal ministerial portfolios for finance, health and textiles. He has been elected as MNA from constituency NA-194 three times in 1990 Pakistani general election, 1993 Pakistani general election and 2008 Pakistani general election.

The family of head of state and government in Pakistan is an unofficial title for the family of the head of state or head of government of a country. In Pakistan, the term First Family usually refers to the head of state or head of government, and their immediate family which comprises their spouse and their descendants. In the wider context, the First Family may comprise the head of state or head of government's parents, siblings and extended relatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NA-207 Nawabshah-I</span> Constituency of the National Assembly of Pakistan

NA-207 Nawabshah-I is a constituency for the National Assembly of Pakistan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Report, Staff (2 February 2017). "Aseefa Bhutto Zardari: Like mother, like daughter". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. Correspondent, Our (3 February 2021). "Wishes pour in on Twitter as Aseefa Bhutto turns 28". Pakistan Observer. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  3. "We mustn't rest until polio is eradicated, says Aseefa Bhutto". The Express Tribune. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  4. "Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari graduates with MSc degree from UCL". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  5. "Benazir`s daughter ambassador of anti-polio campaign". DAWN.COM. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  6. "Zardari's daughter made Pak ambassador for anti-polio drive". Hindustan Times. 11 October 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Who is Aseefa Bhutto, Pakistan's First Lady to be?". The Indian Express. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 Ghumman, Khawar (14 June 2013). "Is Aseefa going to be the new heir to the PPP throne?". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  9. Kazmi, Sara (8 June 2013). "Rotary International honors Aseefa Zardari's anti polio efforts | Pakistan Today" . Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Mago, Shivani (11 March 2024). "Pakistanis are rooting for Aseefa Bhutto Zardari. Her First Lady appointment is 'historic'". ThePrint. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 "Aseefa Bhutto becomes 'First Lady of Pakistan'". www.geo.tv. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  12. "Bilawal, Aseefa, Zardari to contest next general elections". gulfnews.com. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  13. "Aseefa to contest elections from Lyari or Tando Allahyar: PPP". The Express Tribune. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  14. 1 2 "President Zardari decides to name daughter Aseefa as first lady". The Express Tribune. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  15. "Aseefa to contest by-polls from NA-207". The Express Tribune. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  16. "Aseefa Bhutto Zardari submits nomination papers for by-poll in NA-207 constituency". www.thenews.com.pk. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  17. Correspondent, Our (19 March 2024). "11 file papers for Nawabshah seat vacated by Zardari". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  18. "Aseefa Bhutto Zardari wins NA-207 seat unopposed". Samaa TV. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  19. Ali, Imtiaz (29 March 2024). "Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari elected unopposed as MNA from Shaheed Benazirabad". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  20. Ayub, Imran (1 April 2024). "PTI announces Senate election boycott in Sindh". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  21. Desk, NNPS (15 April 2024). "Aseefa Bhutto takes oath as MNA" . Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  22. "Aseefa Bhutto gets status of Pakistan's First Lady". Samaa. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  23. "Aseefa makes parliamentary debut amid noisy protest". DAWN.COM. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  24. "'Nothing new or illegal': Pakistani politicians named in Dubai property data defend ownership, downplay report". DAWN.COM. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.