Gen Next Bhuttos: PPP chief, writer, aspiring punk star

As strongheaded and independent as they come, leading the pack is slain former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto’s suave son 19-year-old Bilawal, who believes “democracy is the best revenge”.

Bilawal, who is studying law at Britain’s Oxford University, was made the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief following his mother’s assassination on December 27.

The teenaged fitness freak and sports enthusiast’s oratory skills are strong — just like his mother’s. A glimpse of his politics — a blend of the orient and the occident — can be seen at a social networking site where he logs in as “lawalib” — that’s Bilawal spelt backwards.

Benazir’s 17-year-old elder daughter Bakhtawar, who is studying in Dubai, was keen on becoming a punk singer. Benazir encouraged her to take up singing as a career and even asked a journalist friend in the US to introduce Bakhtawar to the famous hip hop singer Puff Daddy.

But Bakhtawar — like her younger sister, Aseefa (14) — has expressed her desire to join politics. Aseefa, who is also at school, loves animals, and is often pictured with a black Persian cat.

Their 25-year-old cousin Fatima Bhutto, the daughter of Benazir’s murdered brother Murtaza, is mature beyond her years. Fatima, a prolific writer and a bitter critic of Benazir, likes to operate at the grassroots level. At 15, she published her first book of poems — Whispers of the Desert — in her father’s memory.

However, the seniors in their family are taking all possible steps to make sure the other Bhutto children do not interact with the media.

At the press conference following Bilawal’s appointment as chairman of the PPP, his father and party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari asked the media to not address questions to his son “who is of a tender age”.

The Bhutto children, who have suddenly become the cynosure of all eyes, have been asked to avoid the national and international media to avoid any embarrassment ahead of the general election.

Bilawal’s 25-year-old cousin Fatima, a bitter critic of his mother slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, has also been directed not to speak to the media, The News reported.

Fatima, who has written reams against Benazir Bhutto, is forwarding interview requests to her stepmother Ghinwa Bhutto.

When a reporter of a local daily met Ghinwa, she did not let her children talk — even though her son Zulfiqar Jr was keen on replying to some questions.

The media is hanging on to every word uttered by any of the Bhutto children, especially Bilawal, and is even surfing the Internet to get a good quote.