Critics and admirers have shown a mixed reaction towards Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s induction into the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet, with some saying he as a foreign minister was a good addition to the new cabinet, while others say he has turned his party into a “B team” of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz by this measure. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday took oath as the new federal minister from President Dr. Arif Alvi.
The ceremony was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr which was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Many other federal cabinet members like Rana Sanaullah, Naveed Qamar, Khursheed Shah, Sherry Rehman, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar were among the attendees. Sister Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari and father Asif Ali Zardari were also present.
After the oath-taking ceremony, he held a meeting with Alvi. He later met PM Shehbaz Sharif along with his father Asif Ali Zardari. The premier congratulated Bilawal on joining his cabinet and vowed to solve the ongoing problems in the country together. Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Khawaja Saad Rafiq were also present in the meeting.
The prime minister linked the country’s development with the supremacy of the constitution and the democratic process.
Following the development, Bilawal’s sister congratulated her brother. Taking to Twitter, she wrote: “Congratulations to the youngest foreign minister in Pakistan’s history.”
She further added that the task of the foreign ministry was tough because of the policies of the previous government but she hoped that Bilawal would make it work.
Elder sister Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari also congratulated her brother saying that she was proud of her brother. She posted pictures of brother Bilawal on her Instagram with the caption “already outshone in parliament and always stuck to his democratic values.”
CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah congratulated Bilawal. In a tweet, he said he was confident that Bilawal will meet the expectations of people. Many journalists and news media personalities also congratulated Bilawal including anchorperson Garidah Farooqi, Kamran Shahid, Dr Nazia Memon and Asma Shirazi. Some others were sceptical as well. Analyst Moeed Pirzada reminded Bilawal Bhutto Zardari that he used to criticize going to the IMF. Anchor Hajira Maryam criticised the appointment of Bilawal due to his lack of experience in the cabinet.
Following the development, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry took a dig at Bilawal Bhutto and said that he wants to congratulate PPP that the grandchild of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had joined the cabinet of Zia’s squad. He also taunted Asif Zardari that he has finished the PPP himself. “PPP has officially joined PMLN, how can they even say they are different?” he said. Another PTI member Zartaj Gul also criticized Bilawal, tweeting “a bumbling fool like Bilawal as country’s foreign minister was inarguably a new low for the nation.”
