Asifa, Bakhtawar oppose inclusion of Irfanullah Marwat in Peoples Party

E-Paper | March 17, 2026

Asifa and Bakhtawar, the daughters of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians President Asif Ali Zardari, strongly opposed the inclusion of former lawmaker Irfanullah Marwat in the party, reported DawnNews.

Marwat had on Friday announced to switch his loyalties from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to Peoples Party, following a meeting with Asif Zardari.

Both the sisters took to Twitter to express their displeasure over the development in a hard tone.

The "sick man should be rotting in a jail cell somewhere not coming anywhere near PPP," tweeted Bakhtawar Bhutto-Zardari.

"Party that was led by a woman will not tolerate such people," she maintained.

Asifa took a more hardliner approach and went on to say that "Marwat should not be in PPP" and that "one of the core PPP values is respect for women."

"His repulsive and illegal actions are reprehensible," she maintained.

Pakistan

Bilawal asks govt to convene meeting of Provincial Finance Commission

Ali Wazir released from Sukkur prison after bail in sedition case

Gul Plaza built in violation of approved building plan, Sindh Building Control Authority tells commission

Hamdard

Feb 25, 2017 09:58pm

Unfortunately PPP is not a people's party its a Bhutto & Zardari family party. A family business in which the ordinary worker is abused and treated as a slave

Recommend 0

Abdulla Hussain

Feb 25, 2017 10:16pm

Irfanullah Khan Marwat is a tinted person. Still fresh in the minds of the peoples is the famous case of 'Veena' Hayat. Marwat was involved in a major controversy in 1991, when he was implicated in the infamous Veena Hayat Case, in which Miss Farhana 'Veena' Hayat, daughter of veteran Muslim League politician Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan and close friend of the late Benazir Bhutto, was allegedly gang-raped by some criminals on Marwat's orders, an instance of political victimization. He was never tried or convicted but many people still believe he was definitely behind this heinous action and should be brought to justice.

Recommend 0

asad lateef

Feb 25, 2017 10:29pm

Marwat had used police private cells for for his personal matters number of times,when he was home minister of sindh way back.The present dy speaker of sindh assembly was his one of victims .

Recommend 0

Harmony-1©

Feb 25, 2017 10:27pm

Good girls! Speaking against a misogynist.

Recommend 0

stranger

Feb 25, 2017 10:31pm

Good stand by the young ladies. Bravo.

Recommend 0

Ayub

Feb 25, 2017 10:31pm

Such people should be denied entry to the party.

Recommend 0

Shehz

Feb 25, 2017 10:45pm

Marwat is a violator of women. Only reason he didn't get charged for Veena Hayat rape is because he had connections.

Recommend 0

Anti-corruption

Feb 25, 2017 10:48pm

Very nice of Assefa and Bakhtawar. Irfan Marwat is a crook and his character is well known from the days he was provincial minister. He found his soul mate in Zardari that's why he wanted to join PPP.

Recommend 0

SABA

Feb 25, 2017 11:35pm

He was the primary accused of the Vena Hayat gang rape case. Why did not Bilawal speak against this decision?

Recommend 0

Sheeda Tully trump

Feb 25, 2017 11:59pm

for a change, Dawn does not give history/context on Mr Marwat (when it is needed)!

Recommend 0

Parvez

Feb 26, 2017 12:42am

Asifa, Bakhtawar and to be quite honest even Bilawal.........really matter not.

Recommend 0

AJr

Feb 26, 2017 12:57am

Brilliant. I salute you girls

Recommend 0

Saj

Feb 26, 2017 02:02am

So the pop is now goingntp be controlled and run by these two ?what right do they have what authorityndomthey have? Just because he has been accused of rape ? Ppp as always welcome people from all strata of society regardless of what crimes they have been accused of

Recommend 0

KHAN

Feb 26, 2017 02:22am

What about other crooks who are already in the pool for years?

Recommend 0

Pieliedie

Feb 26, 2017 02:22am

This is the only kind of opposition which will take Pakistan forward. More power to you girls!

Recommend 0

Syed

Feb 26, 2017 02:43am

Instead of raging your anger on Twitter, why don't you just talk to your father?

Recommend 0

Naveed Jafri

Feb 26, 2017 03:09am

Aseefa/Bakhtawar I am afraid, the sentiments that you shared are echoed by the whole nation for your party also!

Recommend 0

SYED ANJUM ali

Feb 26, 2017 03:11am

I think that the Bhutto-Zardari ladies have taken a very principled stand against a very dubious person, with quite a tarnished reputation. I hope thus will be an example for other political parties, to shun such people and opt for clean, well-reputed members.

Recommend 0

hasrat

Feb 26, 2017 03:17am

Uhhhh.... Really???

Recommend 0

Desi

Feb 26, 2017 04:05am

If you are that passionate about this, then ask you leaders Zardari to send him out of PPP. Let's see how much say you two have in the party.

Recommend 0

Asad

Feb 26, 2017 04:12am

Wow! How about rest of 99.999% PPP, is Marwat the only sick man who should rot?

Recommend 0

Ahsan gul

Feb 26, 2017 05:20am

Now the Zardari's daughters in politics? When our people will reject Shreeif and Zardari's children's? The most easy job in Pakistan is to be a politician or related to a be son or daughter. only public has the power to stop this nonsense.

Recommend 0

Not your supporter

Feb 26, 2017 05:18am

I highly admire that. This is what we need, values in politics

Recommend 0

Mohammed

Feb 26, 2017 05:35am

If you love PPP Than get the Zardari out.

Recommend 0

hxnxky

Feb 26, 2017 05:35am

Who cares? As if they have angels in PPP. Let's have him that way you will have some more bad faces added to stock.

Recommend 0

AXH

Feb 26, 2017 06:00am

Fair enough, but what do these sisters have to say about the corruption of their party???

Recommend 0

Sameer

Feb 26, 2017 07:02am

This is an excellent way to launch the daughters in to politics in case the son fails to launch at all.

Recommend 0

Abdullah khuhro

Feb 26, 2017 08:46am

strong woman's daughters' strong stance should make heed to them who call shots of the PPP.

Recommend 0

Feb 26, 2017 08:56am

Oh. Citing principles now, are we?

Recommend 0

Sixer From Chakwal

Feb 26, 2017 09:17am

Though I will never ever vote to PPP and i strongly believe that PPP never did any good for Pakistan but I must say good stand girls

Recommend 0

wasi Tahir

Feb 26, 2017 09:20am

Bakhtawar BB, PPP is already a whole bunch of corrupt people, get rid of those first.And the only hope for PPPP's success is to keep yourself in a distance from your father. Pakistani common people already perceive him the most corrupt person of the nation.

Recommend 0

Asif wahab

Feb 26, 2017 09:48am

How very 'democratic' of them!

Recommend 0

AHMAD GERMAN

Feb 26, 2017 09:51am

I concur with her,

Recommend 0

IBN E ASHFAQUE

Feb 26, 2017 09:53am

Thanks to this ladies...........PPP will have some chance...........

Recommend 0

SAM

Feb 26, 2017 10:23am

Good Marwat is a incompetent person.

Recommend 0

zubair

Feb 26, 2017 10:26am

AZ and Marwat are two sides of the same coin!

Recommend 0

Reader

Feb 26, 2017 10:28am

Can they also 'tweet' some thing about their 'great father' and ' learned brother'.

Recommend 0

zain nazimabadi

Feb 26, 2017 10:33am

Just when i thought PPP has touched the rock bottom these two young ladies ( Asifa and Bakhtawar ) made me think there might be still some hope .Kudos .Please also do something about the corrupt Sindh govt which has made the life of people miserable .

Recommend 0

Ahmed Bilal Sheikh

Feb 26, 2017 10:39am

Dear Asifa and Bakhtawar, Should Asif Ali Zardari be leading the legacy of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto?

Recommend 0

Hamid shafiq

Feb 26, 2017 11:19am

Real daughters of Benazir bhutto thats why bhutto famous for straight forwardness.

Recommend 0

syed wasim haider

Feb 26, 2017 11:24am

Salutes to these two young daughters of the east.They did not forget the story of Rahila Tiwana. They have taken a bold step and at the right time. Most probably they have more genes of Benazeer.

Recommend 0

Abdulla Hussain

Feb 26, 2017 11:53am

I really appreciate these two daughters of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto for taking a clear stand. God bless them.

Recommend 0

Waaris

Feb 26, 2017 12:13pm

Dear sisters, your father has built in corruption machine in himself and you cannot hold him responsible for inclusion of Marwat or any other criminal in ppp

Recommend 0

Fayzee

Feb 26, 2017 12:43pm

Excellent dear sisters, but what about your own? Would you say the same about him as well?

Recommend 0

Muhammad

Feb 26, 2017 01:02pm

Both leading Parties in Pakistan running Kingdom or Family Business. However current Gov't took some good initiatives as compare to Past. But there is no improvement in Sindh though its PPP responsibility since they have mandate from last 10 years but they just talk and nothing practical and Sindh is in era of 80s and 90s...

Recommend 0

Saif zulFiqar

Feb 26, 2017 01:05pm

Zardari is not honest to the country as well as the family. He is only friend of money.

Recommend 0

Samad Chaudhry London

Feb 26, 2017 01:16pm

Brave girls

Recommend 0

SABIR

Feb 26, 2017 01:42pm

Some how I suspect Ms Bakhthawara Bhutto (BB) got sharp sense and good pair of mouth and I am glade I was vindicated today . The Girl power must be respected and Mr IK Marwat shouldn't be in PPP as per our future leaders wish. When are you coming to main stream politics?

Recommend 0

Nasir, London

Feb 26, 2017 02:59pm

@Abdulla Hussain: people like Marwat must not allowed in any political party. PPP should reject him while PML-N should expel him, simple as that.

Recommend 0

GUEST

Feb 26, 2017 03:12pm

What did he do in the past, can someone guide me? I really don't know.

Recommend 0

SGH

Feb 26, 2017 03:51pm

@Abdulla Hussain . Thank you for Information about I. Murwat.

Recommend 0

Akram Malik

Feb 26, 2017 04:16pm

why should it matter, if these are that the daughters have any different opinion. For the present, they are , like the rest of the part, who have no say whatever. What goes on within the party. While take exception to this particular new,? The Pakistan People's party, as we all know, become a party of opportunists, who had joined the party to save their skin. All who were offered to join the party, without any regard for the rule of law, simply to keep the ruling PPP in power.

Recommend 0

Saeeds

Feb 26, 2017 05:57pm

@Hamdard Read the article and understand don't repeat same senseless thought when you see word PPP. These girls standing for righteous at least appreciate.

Recommend 0

Arun-KS

Feb 27, 2017 10:15am

As long as a female says something for the dignity of another female, should be praised. Her statement looks bearing more of moral-genesis than that of politics.

Recommend 0

TAriq

Feb 27, 2017 11:31am

Is it not funny that if Zardari can be included and heads the party then why pointing any other person as tainted or rotten. May be these innocent daughters of bhutto should ask common person about the reputation of her father and then point fingers on other.

Recommend 0

imdadali

Feb 27, 2017 01:05pm

why daughters of former president and defacto head of PPP is opposing on the inclusion of Mr. Marwat in the PPP, what is his sin whether he caused harm for the party in past or it provided huge loss to the party. why on the inclusion of gabool of layari and nadir akmal of PTI and faisal salh hyat of former PMLQ was not raised finger on them.

Recommend 0

SABIR

Feb 27, 2017 01:21pm

Nop! The girls are right. Mr IK Marwat shouldn't be in any public office. Misogynist are not welcome in any political arena.

Recommend 0

FAK Rao

Feb 27, 2017 01:29pm

Good start

Recommend 0

Zafar ahmed

Feb 27, 2017 02:30pm

Asifa and Bakhtawar are totally right on the issue.

Recommend 0

Ijaz

Feb 27, 2017 03:33pm

The girls are absolutely right of course

Recommend 0

ukasha

Feb 27, 2017 03:47pm

PPP was always a Bhutto's party and now half in half with Zardari. God bless Pakistan & Sindh.

Recommend 0

Asad Halepoto

Feb 27, 2017 05:02pm

If its true than really appreciate their decision Sister's decision will be the same of Bilawal's.

Recommend 0

Feb 27, 2017 06:31pm

These girls should oppose Zardari's inclusion in PPP first. Charity begins at home.

Recommend 0

Vinod narang

Feb 27, 2017 07:01pm

You go girls !! Pakistan needs more women like them who can speak their mind without the fear of what others will say

Recommend 0

Zarbakht

Feb 27, 2017 07:09pm

Astonished to see so many people praising and believing in Bakhtawar and Asifa Zardari. It is so simple that they tweet on their own?? It is a pre planned move by Mr Zardari, first invite Irfan Marwat and then launch his daughters to reject his entry in PPP. If Asifa and Bakhtawar are so courageous, can they talk against their own father???

Recommend 0

Muhammad Mashhood Qasmi

Feb 27, 2017 07:33pm

This is the beginning of a long journey. They must do a lot more in coming days, as they have reflected by their action. Salute to you Aasifa & Bakhtawer!!!

Recommend 0

Feb 27, 2017 09:01pm

@Hamdard You said the right thing

Recommend 0

malick

Feb 27, 2017 10:16pm

good lesson for zardari and his mufahmat policy.

Recommend 0

hopeful

Feb 28, 2017 12:16am

He has been chosen by Asif Zardari. Need we say more.

Recommend 0

hopeful

Feb 28, 2017 12:16am

@Abdulla Hussain Agreed

Recommend 0

Waleed Khokhar

Feb 28, 2017 01:39am

@Saj You would like to make Mr. Marwat part of your family knowing about the accusations? Food for thought sir.

Recommend 0

ahamd shah

Feb 28, 2017 02:14am

So they are serious to rule Pakistan. That is why they don't want him to their family(Bhutto ,Zardari family) ..As for him ,this would just be for a change to leave one family (sharifs' family )and join another family. What a country!

Recommend 0

Omar

Feb 28, 2017 08:11am

Zardari is playing classic good cop bad cop routine. He knows his reputation is not even worth the paper it's written on , but, this is a sure shot way of creating ripples for his spawn in political arena and become relevant rather quickly! Until and unless I see sustained, constructive and result oriented action from these young stalwarts, I will accept this statement only as political gimmickry orchestrated by chief juggler -in-charge Zardari.

Recommend 0

Akil Akhtar

Feb 28, 2017 09:29am

They should ask their father why he is meeting such a person...

Recommend 0

Rana Mohsin

Feb 28, 2017 09:57am

This is a trick by the family members to win the sympathies of public by using daughters , otherwise all are same. Zardari is a leader of this house in all seasons.

Recommend 0

a. k. Mohmand

Feb 28, 2017 11:34am

Dear Asifa & Bakhtawar. Please be generous. Don't grudge your Dad and Mr.Marwat fondly hugging each other.

Recommend 0

Syed

Feb 28, 2017 11:52am

You proved that being Zardari or Buttho has no impact on ones thoughts. It is your inner maturity.

Recommend 0

BlueCollar

Feb 28, 2017 01:09pm

Daughters rebelling against the decision of their father. What is the role of their brother Bilawal in accepting Marwat in PPP ? I guess PPP is still the domain of senior Zardari.

Recommend 0

Ahmad Farooq

Feb 28, 2017 02:12pm

Well done girls.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

K&N’s SmartCooking Recipes: Mortadella Bread Omelette

A hearty bread omelette filled with mortadella, chicken, vegetables and melted mozzarella for a satisfying savoury bite.

Chery Master Pakistan expands nationwide 3S dealership network: 10 operational, 20 planned by 2027

The nationwide dealership network includes 8 dealerships across six major cities, with two additional dealerships launching in the coming month, expanding the network to 10 dealerships nationwide.

Cardiogen and the molecular language of cardiac renewal: A speculative exploration

This article explores Cardiogen’s molecular characteristics, theorised mechanisms of action and its possible relevance across multiple research domains.