Benazir Bhutto’s Daughter Becomes Member of Pakistan Assembly

Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, the daughter of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari, was elected unopposed as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad (formerly Nawabshah). This success came on March 29, following in the footsteps of her father who had vacated the seat after being elected president. Aseefa, accompanied by her brother and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, arrived at the Parliament to assume her new responsibilities and was administered her oath by NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq amid protest by some MNAs associated with the PTI, leading to a walkout by treasury lawmakers.

The PTI’s protest was related to the arrest of its candidate for NA 207, Ghulam Mustafa Rind, by the Sakrand police. Apparently, Rind was supposed to contest against Aseefa in the by-elections, leading to the PTI’s dissatisfaction with the situation. President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated Aseefa on taking the oath as a member of the National Assembly and shared images from his official account.

The PPP, as well as Aseefa’s sister Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari and PPP Central Information Secretary Faisal Karim Kundi, termed the occasion a historic moment for Pakistan’s parliamentary democracy. Additionally, Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon extended congratulations to Aseefa on her accomplishment. Aseefa, who holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and sociology and a master’s degree in global health and development, has previously served as a goodwill ambassador for polio eradication in 2012, making her a familiar face among the masses.