After PPP-P President Asif Ali Zardari assumed office as the 14th president of Pakistan, his youngest daughter, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, is set to assume the title of first lady.
This development marks the second instance in the nation's 76-year history where a daughter or a sister of a head of state will be conferred with the title.
Previously, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had bestowed the title of first lady upon his sister, Fatima Jinnah, in a similar capacity.
After the establishment of Pakistan, Fatima Jinnah, the sister of the founder of Pakistan and the country's first governor general, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was given the title of the 'Mother of the Nation' for her valuable contribution to the freedom struggle, as well as the status of the first lady. She held the title till the death of Jinnah on September 11, 1948.
The designation of First Lady traditionally went to the spouse of a head of government or head of state, making Aseefa Bhutto's likely appointment a rare occurrence after the 'King of Reconciliation', Asif Zardari, excelled in this matter as well.
Also Read: Asif Zardari elected 14th president of Pakistan with wide margin
However, during his first stint as president in 2008, the position of the first lady had been left vacant.
Asifa Bhutto's journey to the forefront of politics has been characterized by her unwavering support for her father and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Over the past decade, she has stood by Asif Zardari, lending her voice and commitment to furthering the party's political objectives.
The day Asif Ali Zardari was set to take the oath of office as the 14th president of the country, Aseefa arrived at the occasion by his side. The official account of the PPP on X had tweeted: "First lady with the President", sharing a picture of the two arriving for the oath ceremony.
Later, Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari had also tweeted that her younger sister Aseefa had been by her father's side at all his "court hearings to fighting for his release from jail - now by his side as first lady".
On March 9, PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari was elected as the 14th president of Pakistan with a wide margin, defeating the opposition candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai. As per the final vote tally, Zardari, a former president and candidate fielded by the ruling alliance, won 255 votes, while Achakzai polled 119 votes.
In total, Asif Zardari bagged 411 electoral votes in parliament and the four assemblies, while Achakzai got 181 votes.
