PPP’s Aseefa Bhutto elected as MNA unopposed

KARACHI: Aseefa Bhutto of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and daughter of party co-Chairman and President Asif Ali Zardari, has secured her position as a member of the National Assembly (MNA) unopposed.

This comes after three of her opponents withdrew their nomination papers.

Aseefa Bhutto’s election to the National Assembly seat in Shaheed Benazirabad, NA-207, occurred following the vacancy created by her father’s election as the 14th President of Pakistan. Initially, 11 candidates submitted their nomination papers for the by-election, but all of them withdrawn their papers.

The Returning Officer (RO) confirmed that 11 candidates initially submitted their nomination papers for the by-election. However, after scrutiny, only four candidates, including Aseefa, had their papers approved.

In a brief statement, the Election Commission of Pakistan said the remaining three candidates withdrew their nomination papers, resulting in election of Aseefa Bhutto as MNA.

On March 9, Asif Zardari was sworn in as the country’s 14th head of state after he swept the presidential election after obtaining 411 electoral votes.

Aseefa had actively been involved in PPP’s electoral campaign in the run-up to the February 8 general elections and was seen leading various rallies in a bid to seek support for her brother Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. She made her political debut at PPP rally in Multan on November 30, 2020.