English: Benazir Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, carrying her son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, leaving an airliner upon her arrival for a state visit (at Andrews Air Force Base). (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Early life and education
Bilawal was admitted to Aitchison College, Lahore, but due to some security problems he could not continue. Instead he went to Karachi Grammar School during his mother’s second term in office as Prime Minister. He also attended Froebel's International School in Islamabad.[3] He left Pakistan with his mother in April 1999. His father was in jail in Pakistan from 1996 to 2004 for corruption.[4]
He spent his childhood in Dubai and London during his family's self-exile.[2] He later attended Rashid School For Boys in Dubai, where he was Vice President of the student council.[5] He has a black belt in Taekwondo but regrets he could not play cricket because of his family circumstances.[2]
Oxford University
Bilawal matriculated at Christ Church, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, in mid-2007, to study modern history, studying British history before transitioning to general history.[6] Benazir also enrolled him in the Oxford Union debating society.[7] In December 2007, he returned to Pakistan after Benazir was assassinated. He also returned to Pakistan in September 2008 to witness his father sworn in as President of Pakistan.[8] Bilawal completed his studies in June 2010.[9][10][11]Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party
Appointment
After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Benazir's political will declared Asif Ali Zardari as Benazir's successor for party leadership.[12][13][14] However, Bilawal became Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party because Zardari favoured Bilawal to represent Bhutto's legacy in part to avoid division within the party due to Zardari's own unpopularity.[12][13][15] Zardari planned to act as co-chairman of the PPP for at least three years until Bilawal completed his studies overseas.[12][14][15]Bilawal was appointed chairman of the PPP on 30 December 2007.[16] Asif Zardari also announced Bilawal's name change from "Bilawal Zardari" to "Bilawal Bhutto Zardari".[17] At that time he was still studying at Oxford.[18] It had been estimated that Bilawal's security at Oxford may cost at least one million pounds each year.[19]
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