Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the eldest child of the former Pakistani prime minister who was assassinated two years ago, has finished his history degree at Oxford University.
Sources said Bilawal appears to have developed some serious differences with his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, over his style of politics.
Few months ago sources from Naudero House had told this correspondent that Bilawal got furious when he learned that Faryal Talpur, Zardari’s sister, stayed in his mother Benazir’s bed room.
Bilawal reportedly summoned all the servants of the family house at Naudero and ordered them not to allow Faryal Talpur to stay in his mother’s room.
However, some people had been speculating Bilawal would address a political rally in Birmingham on Saturday with Zardari - but he issued a statement saying he would instead help collect donations for the deadly floods that have killed some 1,500 people in Pakistan.
Bilawal cancelled plans to attend the political rally after Zardari, came under fire for visiting Europe while Pakistan faced its worst floods in 80 years. Bilawal had been widely expected to make his first major political speech at the rally for British Pakistanis in Birmingham, prompting criticism Zardari was using the trip to promote the family dynasty.
“It has been stated that I am going to launch my political career this Saturday in Birmingham. This is not true,” Bilawal Bhutto said in a statement released by the Pakistan High Commission.
“In fact, I will not even be attending the event and instead I will be opening a donation point at the Pakistani High Commission in London for victims of the terrible floods which have ravaged northern Pakistan,” he said.
Bilawal is widely seen as the heir to the Bhutto family dynasty founded by his grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged in 1979.
He has been co-chairman of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) since his mother died in 2007 but has not taken an active part in politics and stayed out of the public eye while he finished his studies at Oxford University in June.
He has however accompanied Zardari during his visit to UK and France, raising widespread speculation the president was using the tour to launch his son’s political career.
Zardari met British Prime Minister David Cameron for an informal dinner on Thursday and was due to hold more formal talks on Friday. An official at the Pakistan High Commission said Zardari was still expected to address Saturday’s rally.
Zardari’s decision to go ahead with the trip after Cameron’s remarks, and at a time when more than 1,600 people have been killed in floods, has faced fierce criticism in Pakistan.
Some had suggested that Bilawal Bhutto’s presence at the political rally under such circumstances might damage his reputation and undermine his standing as a future leader.
In his statement, he said that he was planning to continue his education, “both academic and political” and was looking into the possibility of studying law.
“I feel that an understanding of law and an appreciation for the rule of law is important for any politician seeking to strengthen democracy in Pakistan,” he said. (Reporting by Myra MacDonald; editing by Tim Pearce)
The 21-year-old says he is considering studying law before considering a career in Pakistani politics.
The path would be similar to his grandfather, who was hanged shortly after being ousted.
— With input from agencies
