Umar Rehman Malik welcomes Aseefa Bhutto Zardari into parliamentary politics
Abdullah Jan
Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik this week welcomed Aseefa Bhutto Zardari into the parliamentary politics.
“Congratulations! @AseefaBZ entry in to Parliament will be a catalyst in helping improve the lives of the people and raising the voice of the voiceless. Her achievements so far are a testament to her service to the most deserving segment of society,” he said in a statement.
Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari was elected unopposed as a member of the National Assembly from NA-207 Shaheed Benazirabad (formerly Nawabshah) earlier.
She had filed her nomination papers to contest the by-election on March 17 and her candidature was subsequently approved by the returning officer (RO) after the scrutinisation process.
This seat was vacated by her father, Asif Ali Zardari, after he was elected as the president. Word on the grapevine was that President Zardari was going to make Aseefa the new first lady. The PPP has already started referring to her with that title.
Aseefa said she was “grateful and honoured” to have been elected unopposed from the constituency. “I pledge to serve all my constituents to the best of my abilities, with dedication and irrespective of political affiliation,” she said in a post on X.
She thanked the people of her constituency, PPP workers and media organisations for their “presence and support”.
Her siblings, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, also congratulated her. Bakhtawar said that Nawabshah was already celebrating the victory, adding that she could not be prouder of PPP’s newest lawmaker.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar congratulated Aseefa on her unopposed election, adding that her win was a source of joy for all PPP workers.
Aseefa holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and sociology and a master’s in global health and development.
She played a pivotal role in politics in recently held general elections when she ran an aggressive election campaign for her brother PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other party candidates in Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad and Naushahro Feroze districts.
