- Aseefa Bhutto, daughter of President Asif Ali Zardari, is set to become the first lady.
- This groundbreaking decision marks the first time in Pakistan’s history that a President has nominated his daughter for the position.
- The First Lady’s role typically includes hosting dinners, political work, launching initiatives, and collaborating with NGOs, as seen globally.
Aseefa Bhutto Zardari is the daughter of former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who is a prominent figure in Pakistani politics and social activism. She is known for her advocacy in healthcare and education, particularly for her campaigns to eradicate polio in Pakistan.
Aseefa holds a degree in Global Health and Development from University College London and has been actively involved in philanthropic initiatives through the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST). She is seen as a potential leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and a symbol of the Bhutto-Zardari political dynasty.
The Possible First Lady of Pakistan?
The political party’s official page on X shared an image of Aseefa with now-elected president Asif Ali Zardari. The caption read, ‘First lady with the President’. Following the tweet, rumours were that she is likely to become the first lady of Pakistan, even though no official announcements have yet been made.
First lady with the President@AAliZardari @AseefaBZ pic.twitter.com/YgcoLaRdSH
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) March 10, 2024
This groundbreaking decision marks a significant chapter in the nation’s political history. It is notable to mention that this is for the first time, in Pakistan, that a President has announced his daughter for the position, breaking from tradition.
Typically, the role of first lady is reserved for the wives of presidents or prime ministers. This move by the party has sparked a debate among the masses regarding the strategic choice of appointing a daughter to this position and its appropriateness.
What’s the role of the First Lady?
Traditionally, First Ladies around the world have taken on multifaceted roles such as speaking at conferences and summits, hosting dinners, spearheading domestic initiatives, engaging in political work, and collaborating with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for various causes.
In Pakistan, the role of First Ladies has often extended beyond mere ceremonial duties. They have been known to launch their own initiatives addressing social and health-related issues. Notably, some First Ladies, such as Aseefa’s grandmother Nusrat Bhutto, Shafiq Zia (the wife of military dictator Ziaul Haq), and Nahid Mirza (spouse of Iskandar Mirza), remained actively involved in politics, further shaping the political landscape of their time.
6 Pakistani Women in Politics Who Created History. Read the full story here:
The involvement of Pakistani women in politics has seemed to be increasing over time. Once a male-dominated career, politics was all about men taking powerful positions and ruling important countries, however, that is no longer the case..
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