Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a Pakistani politician serving as the Minister of External Affairs of the Government of Pakistan since 27 April 2022. He is known for being Pakistan’s youngest Foreign Minister.
Wiki/Biography
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was born on Wednesday, 21 September 1988 (age 34 years; as of 2022) at Lady Dufferin Hospital, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. His zodiac sign is Virgo. A scion of Pakistan’s famous political dynasty, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in 1999, while his father, Asif Ali Zardari, was serving his prison sentence in Pakistan for eight years, Bilawal along with his mother and sisters used to live in exile between London and Dubai.
A childhood image of Bilawal Bhutto (left) with his mother and sister while visiting the Karachi jail
Bilawal did his primary schooling at Karachi Grammar School, Karachi, Pakistan and Froebel’s International School, Islamabad, Pakistan. After moving to Dubai, he attended Rashid School For Boys, Dubai. Soon after completing his schooling, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History and Politics at Oxford University, London. Bilawal, in 2015, was promoted to Master of Arts by seniority.
Bilawal on the day of the University convocation at Oxford University in London
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s mother, Benazir Bhutto Zardari, was the first female prime minister of Pakistan. She served as the 11th and 13th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988-1990 and from 1993-1996. On 27 December 2007, Benazir was assassinated at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Bilawal’s father, Asif Ali Zardari, is a Pakistani politician and a former president of Pakistan.
Bilawal’s father, Asif Ali Zardari
Bilawal’s elder sister, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, is an educationist. His younger sister, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, is a Pakistani health activist who serves as the UN Ambassador for polio eradication.
From left. Bilawal’s younger sister, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, elder sister, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, his mother, Benazir Bhutto, and Bilawal Bhutto
Other relatives
Bilawal Bhutto’s maternal grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was a former prime minister and president of Pakistan. He was also the founder of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). On 18 March 1978, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged to death after he was convicted of conspiring to murder a political opponent, Nawab Mohammad Ahmad Khan, in 1974. His maternal grandmother, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, was the former first lady of Pakistan.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Indra Gandhi, and Benazir Bhutto; picture from Zulfikar and Benazir’s visit to Shimla in 1972
On 24 October 2011, she died of a prolonged illness. Bilawal’s eldest maternal uncle, Mir Murtaza Bhutto, was a Pakistani politician. On 20 September 1996, he was killed in an encounter with police at his residence in Clifton, Karachi.
Bilawal’s maternal uncle, Mir Murtaza Bhutto (lying on the stretcher), after he was killed in an encounter with police at his residence in Clifton, Karachi
Bilawal’s youngest maternal uncle, Shahnawaz Bhutto, was a politician. On 18 July 1985, Shahnawaz was found dead under mysterious conditions in Nice, France. His maternal aunt, Sanam Bhutto, is divorced and lives in London with her children. His paternal grandfather, Hakim Ali Zardari, was a businessman, politician, and member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. On 24 May 2011, Hakim Zardari died due to multiple organ failure.
Relationships/Affairs
Reportedly, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was dating Hina Rabbani Khar, a Pakistani politician. Hina is married to Firoze Gulzar and has two daughters named Annaya and Dina. In 2012, the couple, Bilawal and Hina, was planning to marry each other and move to Switzerland. According to sources, the alleged affair between Bilawal Bhutto and Hina Rabbani Khar came to the knowledge of Bilawal’s father, Asif Ali Zardari, when the couple was caught in a compromised position inside the official residence of President Zardari.
Bilawal Bhutto and Hina Rabbani Khar
Religion
Bilawal follows Islam.
Career
Politics
On 30 December 2007, three days after Bilawal’s mother, Benazir Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack during an election campaign, he was announced as her successor and the chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party in a press conference addressed by his father, Asif Ali Zardari. 19- year- old Bilawal, in 2007, was pursuing his undergraduate degree when his family announced his involvement in politics. Benazir named her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, as the party chief in the will; however, Asif, in the first national and international press conference held after the death of Benazir, announced his decision to pass the baton to Bilawal. Asif said,
nobody other than Bilawal can keep the PPP and the federation (of Pakistan) intact.”
In 2007, Bilawal was announced as the successor of Benazir Bhutto by his father Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari served the political party as a transitional leader until his son, Bilawal, completed his graduation, at Oxford University, London. In 2014, Bilawal completed his graduation and returned to Pakistan and announced his decision to contest the 2018 general elections from the late Benazir Bhutto’s seat of Ratedero in Larkana. In 2018, he contested the general elections from three constituencies – Karachi District South (NA-246), Malakand (NA-8), and Larkana (NA-200). He won from Larkana with 84,426 votes while he lost from two of the other constituencies to Imran Khan’s political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates. On 13 August 2018, Bilawal became a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. On 5 March 2019, Bilawal was elected as the chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee for Human Rights, unopposed. In 2022, he was appointed as the foreign minister in the government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Controversies
Incest in Bhutto’s family
The book ‘Indecent Correspondence: Secret sex life of Benazir Bhutto,’ written by Roshan Mirza revealed the secret lives of various high-profile personalities in Pakistan, including Bilawal Bhutto and his mother, Benazir Bhutto. According to the author of the book, Roshan Mirza, various swinging parties were attended and organized by many influential people, including Benazir Bhutto and Sherry Rehman, a politician from Pakistan at their respective residences in Dubai. Reportedly, the author also mentioned in the book that Benazir often brought her son Bilawal to such parties. Further, the author revealed the incest in the Bhutto family and how Bilawal was involved in an incestuous relationship with his mother, Benazir Bhutto. A short paragraph from the controversial book Indecent Correspondence: Secret sex life of Benazir Bhutto read,
Omar, in his e-mail communications with Saira, has graphically described how he himself and other men had sex with Benazir and Sherry Rehman together in group sex sessions. These communications are a kind of written confessions that carry the first-hand accounts of sexual encounters in VIP sex parties… They also clearly specify about the “incest” in Benazir’s family, “Incest is like a tradition or custom in their family, that’s what I have seen with Benazir”, Omar revealed to Saira.”
India slammed Bilawal on his comment against Prime Minister Narendra Modi
In 2022, the BJP leaders and workers lashed out at Bilawal’s comments against Modi. Reportedly, Bilawal, in an interview at the UN, responded to India External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remark and attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Gujarat riots. Bilawal said,
(I want to tell India) that Osama bin Laden is dead, but the butcher of Gujarat lives and he is the Prime Minister of India. He (PM Modi) was banned from entering this country until he became the prime minister. This is the prime minister of the RSS and the foreign minister of the RSS. What is the RSS? The RSS takes inspiration from Hitler’s SS.”
Soon after the video of the interview went viral, many BJP workers slammed Bilawal and termed his comment as “highly shameful and derogatory.” Later, BJP workers staged a massive protest against Pakistan and Foreign Minister Bilawal.
BJP workers protesting near the Pakistan embassy in New Delhi against Bilawal Bhutto
A politician from Uttar Pradesh, Manupal Bansal, announced a bounty of Rs 2 crore to anyone beheading Bilawal. In an interview, Manupal announced,
Main ailaan kartaa hoon ki jo uss mantri Bilawal Bhutto kaa dhar se saar alag karegaa, 2 crore kaa inaam mai doongaa (I declare that I will give a reward of Rs 2 crore to anyone who will behead minister Bilawal Bhutto).”
NAB summoned Bilawal on a fake bank account case
Bilawal was summoned three times by the National Accountability Bureau (Nab) in a fake bank account and money laundering case. Reportedly, Opal-225, a joint venture of Zardari Group Private Limited Company, was alleged for fake transactions of PKR thirty-five billion; Bilawal has 25 per cent shares in the firm.
Samaa Tv reporter loses job for questioning Bilawal
Reportedly, in 2022, a Pakistani Journalist named Yaseer Feroz, who worked for a Pakistani news channel Samaa TV, was fired after a video of his interview with Bilawal Bhutto surfaced on the internet. In the interview, Bilawal was questioned by Yaseer regarding the flood-affected areas in Pakistan and whether the infrastructure of Pakistan was responsible for the devastating flood; however, the question irked Bilawal. Yaseer questioned,
Sab climate change hai sir? Karachi ke infrastructure pe koi kaam nahi hona.”
Later, Yaseer posted a video on Twitter, talking about how he was fired by the news channel Samaa TV over a Whatsapp message. Yasheer shared a screenshot of a Whatsapp message he received from the news channel that read,
Aapne kuch khabren aesi break ki hain, jo nahi honi thi.”
According to sources, Yaseer Feroz worked as a reporter and journalist for eight years.
Net Worth
Movable Assets
Held in Pakistan
- Bilawal’s House, D-30, Block Clifton Karachi (gifted/construction): Rs 3 million
- D-33 (1027 squads), Scheme #05 Clifton Karachi 1/3rd share: Rs 2.2 million
- A House in Peshawar, 1/3rd share (self-owned): Rs 6.2m
- Bungalow No 158C, Model Town Lahore, 1/3rd share (self-owned): Rs 4.8m
- House No 1, Street 85, G-6/4 Islamabad, 1200 squads, 1/3rd share ( received as a gift)
- Apartment G-7/1 Islamabad: Rs 1.2m
- M-05 Mezzanine Floor G-7/1 Islamabad: Rs 1.4m
- Basement 502 Sqyds G-7/1 Islamabad: Rs 5.2m
- Apartment G-7/1, Islamabad: Rs 1.4m
- 90 Clifton Karachi (1/3rd share of 50%)- inheritance interest
- Agriculture land Preetamabad, Sannghar Sindh: Rs 680,000
- 181 Acres of agricultural land at Deh Bhutta, Larkana Rato Dero: Rs 2.1m
- 33 Acres of Agricultural Land at Deh Salar, Taluka Rato Dero, Larkana: Rs 1.1m
- 0.37 Guntas agriculture land at Deh Bhando, Rato Dero, Shikarpur Road: Rs 10,744
- 13.2 Acres of inherited land at Deh Panju-Abro Rato Dero
- 3.1 Acres inherited land at Deh Neudero, Larkana
- 2.2 Acres at Deh Larkana- inherited by mother
- 15% share in 240 Acres of agricultural land in Jhando Mari, Tando Allah Yar: Rs 525,750
- 12 Acres of agricultural land in Deh Jarhiyon Taluka Chamber: Rs 1m
- 17.10 Acres of land at Deh 23 Dad Nawabshah: Rs 447,388
Held outside Pakistan
- Loan to Temp Global Growth Limited (inherited/out of inherited money, Dubai: Rs 777.7m
- Loan to Radiant Investment Services (inherited/out of inherited money), Dubai: Rs 125m
- Loan to Royale Properties International Limited (inherited/out of inherited money), Dubai: Rs 68m
- Deposit in Union National Bank, SZR Dubai Branch (out of inherited money): Rs 61m
- Deposit in Union National Bank, SZR, Dubai: Rs 30.6m
- Loan to Victory Enterprises Limited UK: Rs 47m
- Investment in the insurance policy in Dubai (out of inherited money): Rs 2.8m
- Investment in Insurance Policy in Dubai (Out of inherited money): Rs 9m
- Term deposit in Standard Chartered Bank Dubai: Rs 6.6m
- Term deposit in Standard Chartered Bank Dubai: Rs 6m
- Saving account in Union National Bank Dubai (out of inherited money): Rs 0.5m
- Savings Account in Union National Bank Dubai (out of inherited money): Rs 2m
- Savings account in Standard Chartered Bank Dubai (out of inherited money): Rs 6m
- Cash in Dubai (inherited): Rs 13m
- Shares in Tempo Global Limited, Dubai: Rs 1.6m
- Radiant Investment Services Limited, Dubai: Rs 1.4m
- Shares in Tempo Global Gains, Dubai (inherited): Rs 1.4m
- Shares in Radiant Investment Services Dubai (gifted by his mother): Rs 1.3m
- Shares in Tempro Global, Dubai (gifted by his mother): Rs 87,514
- Shares in Royale Properties International Limited Dubai (gifted by mother): Rs 87,514
- Loan to Tempo Global Gains, Dubai (out of inherited money): Rs 273m
- In Dubai ten sets of Jewellery and ornaments, nine shirt cufflinks, seven watches, a laptop etc
Immovable Assets
- 33% share (gifted) in Villa No 11, Jumeirah, Dubai
- 37.5% share in Villa No 34, Al Safa 2, Dubai
- Shares in Zardari Group (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi: Rs 21,000
- Shares in Park Lane Estates (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi: Rs 900,000
Note: The given estimates of movable and immovable assets are according to the year 2019.
Facts/Trivia
- An alumnus of Oxford University, London, Bilawal Bhutto’s first langauge is English and he speaks Urdu with a British accent. Reportedly, when Bilawal joined the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the political party workers were ordered to talk to Bilawal in Urdu or Sindhi to improve his fluency in the languages. In 2019, Pakistani politician Imran Khan, while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Hyderabad University, insulted Bilawal and said that despite Urdu being the national language of Pakistan, Bilawal chooses to give his speeches in English. Imran said,
Bilawal delivers his speeches in English when addressing the parliament. This is patronising and insulting to the more than 90 per cent of Pakistanis who can’t speak English.”
- Reportedly, on 2 August 2018, an unidentified group of people pelted stones at Bilawal’s convoy as it passed through Karachi’s Lyari neighbourhood during an election campaign rally. The convoy was passing from the Baghdadi area to Juna Masjid in Karachi when more than 100 locals started pelting stones in protest and raised the slogan “Go Bilawal go!
- In an interview, Glyn Kilsby, a headmaster of Rashid School for Boys, Dubai, talked about Bilawal’s early days at school and said that Bilawal was good in academics. Bilawal was also the vice president of the Students Council. He said,
Bilawal was an excellent student and had a good relationship with other students and teachers. He was also the vice-president of the Students Council. He was a good all-rounder and took part in a range of activities.”
- A sports enthusiast, Bilawal loves swimming, horse riding, squash and target shooting in his leisure time.
- He is a black belt in Taekwondo.
- Reportedly, while Bilawal was pursuing his undergraduate degree at Oxford University, London, he was often spotted with his two female friends at raucous parties thrown by the drinking society of the college. He also attended the annual Cardinals’ Cocktails, an annual event arranged by Oxford University students, where, for a £10 entrance fee, students can consume unlimited alcohol at the party.
Bilawal Bhutto (centre) with his female friends during an event at Oxford University in London
- Bilawal Bhutto Zardari often talks about empowering women in various press conferences. He is also a supporter of the equality of the sexes. In a press conference, he called for the ban on child marriage in Pakistan and said that a girl dies in Pakistan every 20 minutes due to an underage pregnancy. Bilawal tweeted,
UAE marriage age is 18, Indonesia is 18, and Turkey is also 18. Are they not Muslim countries? In Sindh where marriage age is 18, we saw how law stopped an adult marrying a 10-year-old! Every 20 minutes a girl dies in Pakistan as a result of underage pregnancy. #EndChildMarriage.”
- Had he not become a politician, Bilawal would become a philanthropist.
- He follows a non-vegetarian diet.
- Bilawal’s great-maternal grandmother, Khursheed Begum, hailed from Kutch. She belonged to a Hindu Rajput family and her maiden name was Lakhibai.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education