Who is Asifa Bhutto? Pak PM Benazir’s daughter killed, newly recognized first lady of the country

Pakistan President Asif Zardari last week formally recognized his 31-year-old daughter Asifa Bhutto as the country’s first lady. The status of First Lady usually goes to the wife of the President of the country.

However, Zardari’s wife and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in 2007. After that, she did not remarry and the post of First Lady also remained vacant during her first term as President of the country from 2008 to 2013. Zardari, 68, was sworn in as the country’s 14th president on Sunday.

Zardari was accompanied by his youngest daughter Asifa during the swearing-in ceremony. Eldest daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari tagged Asifa in a tweet, saying, “From accompanying President Asif Zardari in all his court hearings to fighting for his release from jail and now accompanying him as the First Lady of Pakistan. And added Asifa’s name at the end.”

What is the story of Asifa Bhutto?

This move to elevate Asifa to the post of First Lady is an important chapter in the political history of the country. Asifa Bhutto, the youngest first lady, has been a part of Pakistan’s politics since childhood. Educated at Edinburgh and Oxford Brookes University, the first Pakistani girl to receive polio drops in the country.

After the official announcement Asifa was given protocol and privileges befitting a First Lady. In addition to their ceremonial roles, first ladies in Pakistan have historically initiated social and health-related projects. However, figures such as Asifa’s grandmother Nusrat Bhutto, Shafiq Zia (wife of military dictator Ziaul Haq) and Nahid Mirza (wife of Iskander Mirza) also maintained political affiliations. dawn The newspaper reported.

Asifa was a teenager during Zardari’s first term and is currently 31 years old. Asifa was actively involved in the PPP’s election campaign ahead of the February 8 elections and was seen leading various rallies to seek support for her brother Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who was then the party’s candidate for the post of Prime Minister Was. Asifa made her political debut at a PPP rally in Multan on November 30, 2020.

There are many examples in foreign countries when presidents, who were widowers, have asked their daughters, sisters and even nieces to become their First Ladies. Former President of the United States Andrew Jackson, who was a widower, asked his niece Emily Donelson to serve as the country’s First Lady. Additionally, two other US presidents, Chester Arthur and Grover Cleveland, asked their sisters to serve as First Ladies.

(with agency input)