ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is set to become the new foreign minister of Pakistan like his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Bilawal aims to become the PM like his grandfather after possibly winning the general elections.
The late Bhutto had become the FM under Ayub Khan and Bilawal will be taking oath under a once bitter rival - PM Shehbaz Sharif.
Bilawal has been seeking early polls and believes his party has a fair chance of winning the general elections. The PPP chief returned from London yesterday after meeting Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) supremo Nawaz Sharif.
“He might take oath (as FM) on April 25 (today) or a day later, depending on his schedule. But he will be the new FM soon,” said a close aide of the PPP chief.
Earlier, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira had confirmed that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will take oath as foreign minister in a day or two.
“All the matters have been sorted out and the PPP chairman has left for Pakistan after meeting with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will take oath as FM in a day or two,” he had said in London. As Bilawal assumes the new role, the PML-N-led government is facing the daunting task of managing a stuttering economy with huge deficits and reconciling with the west, especially the United States.
The PPP and PML-N - the two main political parties have been alternatively in power during the democratic system in the country.
The PPP is the second-largest party in the current coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sources said Bilawal and Nawaz Sharif did not discuss anything related to the presidency, posts of Senate, or Punjab governor during their meetings.