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Tag: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

  • Bilawal tests positive for coronavirus, goes into isolation

    Bilawal tests positive for coronavirus, goes into isolation

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has tested positive for coronavirus a day after the test results of his political secretary Jameel Soomro came back positive.

    In a tweet, Bilawal shared that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has mild symptoms. “I have tested positive for #COVIDー19 & am self isolating with mild symptoms. I‘ll continue working from home & will be addressing PPP foundation day via video link. Wear a mask everyone, see you on the other side IA,” the PPP chief shared.

    The PPP chief was planning to host Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) gathering at Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh Stadium in Multan on November 30 to mark the party’s 53rd foundation day. However, now he will be addressing the event via video link.

    Meanwhile, Bilawal House, Karachi, also went into lockdown after Soomro tested positive for the virus. Its staffers, including security guards, were barred from entering the house without negative test reports. According to reports, the directives were issued by former president Asif Ali Zardari.

    It may be mentioned here that the PDM — an anti-government alliance that the PPP is a part of — held a rally in Peshawar last week in spite of ban on the political gathering in the wake of an increase in COVID cases. There has been a significant increase in the cases over the past few weeks, with Pakistan reporting over 3,000 cases on Nov 25 — for the first time since July.

  • PTI’s Shahbaz Gill criticises Bakhtawar Bhutto’s engagement’s invitation

    With the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) insisting that they will go ahead with the Peshawar jalsa as planned on November 22, despite a sharp increase in cases of COVID-19, Special Assistant to PM on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill has accused opposition parties of not caring about the lives of ordinary people.

    Taking a dig at Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s upcoming engagement, Dr Gill shared a picture of the invitation card and said: “For Bakhtawar’s engagement, you need a mandatory COVID-19 test report or you will not be allowed to enter Bilawal House. But you call ordinary citizens to your jalsas and put them at risk.”

    “These are those people who consider the public to be less than them,” added the SAPM.

    Bakhtawar will be getting engaged to Mahmood Choudhry on November 27 at Bilawal House in Karachi. All guests attending the ceremony have been requested to get tested for COVID-19 and send the results via e-mail.

    “All attendees are requested to please email a scanned copy of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result 24 hours prior to attendance. This is a mandatory requirement for security clearance,” the invitation reads.

    The guests have also been asked not to bring mobile phones with them due to security purposes.

    “Please note — no photography or mobile phones will be permitted inside the venue and photographs will be available for all guests through our official photographer.”

    “We thank you in advance for adhering to our safety protocols to keep you and your loved ones safe, and enable us all to enjoy the occasion,” it added.

    The couple will reportedly tie the knot in January 2021 in Karachi.

    Meanwhile, it is being reported that Bakhtawar is looking to recreate her mother Benazir Bhutto’s Nikkah look for her engagement.

  • Everything we know about Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s fiancé

    Everything we know about Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari’s fiancé

    Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and former president Asif Ali Zardari’s eldest daughter Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari is all set to get engaged at the end of the month. A formal announcement was made last week and given that Bakhtawar’s groom is not a public figure there was little known about him. As a result, all sorts of speculations started doing the rounds on social media with people sharing unverified stories and reports about the groom-to-be.

    In a bid to put to rest all rumours, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) released an official statement in which they shared all the required information about Bakhtawar’s husband-to-be Mahmood Choudhry.

    According to the statement, “Mahmood Choudhry is the son of Mohammad Younas and Begum Suraiya Choudhry who hail from the old town of Lahore. Mr Younas migrated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1973 where he established businesses in the construction and transport industry.”

    “Mahmood, the last born of five siblings was born on July 28, 1988, in the city of Abu Dhabi. He completed his primary schooling in Abu Dhabi and secondary schooling in the United Kingdom. Mahmood further went on to read Law at the University of Durham.”

    “The family’s primary country of residence remains the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where Mahmood continues to run his businesses in construction, finance and tech,” added the statement.

    Meanwhile, thanking everyone for their good wishes, Bakhtawar said that the cards were leaked “before they were even scheduled to be officially sent”.

    “Have absolutely NO affiliation with any family in the US which is being popularly quoted by most media,” added Bakhtawar.

    Bakhtawar and Mahmood will be getting engaged on November 27 at Bilawal House in Karachi. All guests attending the ceremony have been requested to get tested for COVID-19 and send the results via e-mail.

    “All attendees are requested to please email a scanned copy of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result 24 hours prior to attendance. This is a mandatory requirement for security clearance,” the invitation reads.

    The guests have also been asked not to bring mobile phones with them due to security purposes.

    “Please note — no photography or mobile phones will be permitted inside the venue and photographs will be available for all guests through our official photographer.”

    “We thank you in advance for adhering to our safety protocols to keep you and your loved ones safe, and enable us all to enjoy the occasion,” it added.

    The couple will reportedly tie the knot in January 2021 in Karachi.

  • Bilawal announces protest against ‘stolen’ GB polls

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has alleged irregularities in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections, saying the results were manipulated to favour the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — leading on 12 seats as per the initial results.

    In a tweet, the PPP chairperson announced to join a demonstration in the region against the “stealing of elections”.

    “My election has been stolen. I will be joining the people of Gilgit-Baltistan in their protest shortly,” said the opposition leader in a tweet.

    The statement followed a series of tweets by PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who claimed the PTI was able to bag more seats because of alleged pre-poll rigging. She claimed the PTI has no support in GB and its electoral victories would be a result of alleged rigging done by “selectors”.

    The PML-N candidates were forced to switch their loyalties and join the PTI, she said, adding despite the support of the state machinery, the party failed to gain a simple majority.

    PTI AHEAD OF PPP, PML-N:

    According to the initial results, the PTI and its allies are set to form a new government for the next five years in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. Unofficial results showed the PTI and its allies were leading, clinching half [12] of the contested seats.

    Official results are expected to be announced today as election authorities said they were facing difficulties in collecting results from several far-flung mountainous areas due to heavy snow and rain.

    The PTI and its allies, according to the initial results, are in the lead with at least 12 of the 24 seats being contested in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly.

    At least four independent candidates projected to win are most likely to join the PTI to form the government.

    The two other main contenders — the centre-left PPP and centre-right PML-N, which won the 2015 elections in the region — have cried foul, accusing the election authorities of “rigging”.

    The chief election commissioner, however, denied the charge, advising the opposition parties to contact the commission if there are any irregularities.

  • Bakhtawar Bhutto to get engaged this month

    Bakhtawar Bhutto to get engaged this month

    Bakhawar Bhutto-Zardari, daughter of former president Asif Ali Zardari and late prime minister (PM) Benazir Bhutto, is getting engaged to the son of a United States (US) based businessman on November 27.

    According to reports, the engagement ceremony of Bakhtawar and Mahmood Choudhry, son of Younas Choudhary, will be held on November 27 at Bilawal House Karachi.

    The organisers have requested all guests to get tested for COVID-19 and send the results via e-mail.

    “All attendees are requested to please email a scanned copy of their negative COVID-19 PCR test result 24 hours prior to attendance. This is a mandatory requirement for security clearance,” the invitation reads.

    The guests have also been asked not to bring mobile phones with them due to security purposes.

    “Please note — no photography or mobile phones will be permitted inside the venue and photographs will be available for all guests through our official photographer.”

    “We thank you in advance for adhering to our safety protocols to keep you and your loved ones safe, and enable us all to enjoy the occasion,” it added.

    While Bakhtawar is getting engaged, her elder brother and incumbent Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, still seems to be looking for his ideal life partner.

    View his exclusive interview with The Current to find out more:

  • Fashion face-off during the G-B Elections

    Fashion face-off during the G-B Elections

    With Gilgit-Baltistan going to elections this Saturday (November 15), the region has emerged as a hotspot with politicians from the ruling party and opposition arriving in the area for the ongoing election campaign. Over a dozen political and religious parties, including the country’s three major parties — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), PML-N, and PPP — are contesting the polls.

    Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) has a rich, beautiful, and unique cultural heritage manifested in local traditions, music, and dress. Use of caps and ceremonial headdresses is a part of their tradition. The most commonly used caps are ‘khoi’ (a tuft of feathers or a flower on it) and ‘Iraghi’ (cap with a jewel). Politicians visiting Gilgit for the election campaign made sure that they carry those traditional accessories.

    There is no doubt that in recent times, our politicians have become more fashion savvy. With GB elections underway, we have compiled a list of politicians who impressed everyone with their fashion sense and style during the campaign.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan

    Starting with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan. PM Khan, who was known to be a style icon during his cricketing time and is still one for many, during his visit elegantly carried a blue blazer with a white shalwar kameez.

    Maryam Nawaz

    Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif has been making waves with her outfits ever since she landed in G-B. She has been accesorizing her looks with Gilgit-Baltistani caps and shawls, adding a traditional touch to her outfits.

    Maryam also wore a beautiful Iraghi cap with the traditional piece of the jewel called ‘silsila’.

    Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is not far behind when it comes to making cool fashion choices. The politician has been spotted wearing a number of cool sweaters and jackets along with the Baltistani cap.

    Sherry Rehman

    A diva in the truest sense, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, also shared a selfie of herself wearing the khoi cap. She completed her look with a pair of reflectors and did not forget to wear her mask!

    Zulfi Bokhari

    One of South Asia’s Five Best-Dressed Men, Zulfi Bokhari made a style statement in a navy blue shalwar kurta and khoi.

    Hina Pervaiz Butt

    And how can we leave behind PML-N’s fashionable MPA Hina Butt.

  • Bilawal’s opposition to Nawaz’s narrative is fine with Maryam

    Bilawal’s opposition to Nawaz’s narrative is fine with Maryam

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has come forward to defend Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after comments made by the latter stirred controversy regarding his party’s role in the joint opposition alliance.

    In an interview to BBC Urdu, the PPP chairman said he didn’t agree with PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif over his decision to name the army generals during a rally in Gujranwala.

    Bilawal said the statement “shocked” him because the use of such language during public gatherings was unprecedented.

    The statement was taken by many as an indication that the PPP would jump the ship and leave the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — a joint opposition alliance — in a lurch. The impression, however, was contested by the PPP leadership, as it expressed commitment to the anti-government alliance.

    Responding to these reports, PML-N VP Maryam Nawaz said the statement made by Bilawal didn’t stand in contrast to the narrative peddled by the PDM. She said attempts to create rifts in the PDM will fail, adding that the party has no issues with the PPP chief’s remarks.

    Previously, the rumours regarding the PPP’s role in PDM started making rounds in the mainstream and social media after Capt (r) Safdar, Maryam’s spouse, was arrested from his hotel room by the Karachi police.

    The PPP had distanced itself from the arrest, demanding an inquiry into the episode. The arrest was dubbed by the PDM leadership as an attempt to damage the multi-party alliance.

  • Nawaz naming Gen Bajwa in Gujranwala jalsa ‘shocked’ Bilawal

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has distanced himself from a statement by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif accusing Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa of “hijacking elections”.

    The PPP chief alluded to remarks made by Nawaz during a rally in Gujranwala held by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) last month. During the speech, the former PM had called out Gen Bajwa and ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed for alleged manipulation of election results.

    In an interview with BBC Urdu, Bilawal said the statement “shocked” him because the use of such language during the public gathering was unprecedented. “But if Nawaz Sharif names these generals, he must have evidence to back these claims up,” said the PPP chief, adding that hopefully, the PML-N supreme leader would bring forward relevant evidence.

    The PPP chief said the PDM was not in favour of naming generals, so a consensus was reached to use the term “establishment”. However, it is Nawaz Sharif’s right to call these people out if he wants to, added Bilawal.

    He said the deployment of the military inside and outside the polling was wrong, so was the dam fund campaign of former chief justice Saqib Nisar in the lead-up to the polls. “So, due to the prevalence of such activities, we can not say Imran was brought to power by an individual.”

    The PPP chief also shot down reports regarding his party’s lack of interest in the PDM. He said the PPP stood by the commitments made at the time of the formation of the joint opposition alliance.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Bilawal’s Urdu tutor says he makes her proud

    EXCLUSIVE: Bilawal’s Urdu tutor says he makes her proud

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who has become apt at addressing political rallies and press conferences in Urdu after initial hiccups, is taking language lessons from party stalwart Shehla Raza.

    The PPP chairman had had teething problems at the outset of his political career has a much stronger grip on the language.

    The PPP leader and former Sindh Assembly speaker, who was featured in The Current Life, said it was true that Bilawal was taking Urdu lessons from her.

    “My heart grows every time I see him speak Urdu. Yesterday (while addressing Gujranwala rally), you must’ve seen that when he was delivering his speech, he had noted down his points in English. He used to take a look at his points and then talk,” said Shehla.

    According to the former speaker, the PPP chief used to speak Urdu as a kid but having stayed away from the country for such a long time, his ability to speak the national language suffered.

    Shehla Raza said she couldn’t stand Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fayyazul Hasan Chohan, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed and would never appear on TV show alongside them.

    The PPP leader also revealed that she had gotten her leg fractured twice during her career as a politician.

  • Is PPP ditching joint Opp alliance?

    The decision by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to skip the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) jalsa in Quetta has left people talking.

    Social media is abuzz with speculations about a potential deal between the PPP and the military establishment. People are claiming that the PPP is eyeing a deal and will quit the joint opposition alliance once things are sort out with the powers-that-be.

    Some observers see these rumours that are making rounds ahead of the gathering in Quetta an attempt to create rifts among 11 opposition parties who joined hands to oust the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.

    But analysts have also questioned the role of PPP in past when it made deals with establishment behind other parties’ back. And now the absence of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari from the rally is also seen as the first step towards reconciliation.

    But is PPP really thinking of leaving the PDM? Facts state otherwise. Not only the PPP chief is addressing the gathering via videolink, but the rally is also attended by top-tier leadership of the party. This was also confirmed by PPP leader Palwasha Khan.

    However, later in the day, it emerged that the PPP chief would not be able to address the Quetta jalsa due to poor bandwidth in GB region. According to PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the address might not materialise due to the internet issues.

    As Gilgit-Baltistan is set to go to polls on Nov 15, PPP Chairperson Bilawal is in the region for a period of three weeks to run an election campaign.

    During the election campaign in Gilgit-Baltistan, Bilawal will address public rallies, corner meetings and press conference at Ganache district, Skardu, Ghizer, Astor, Diamir, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar and other areas of Gilgit-Baltistan.