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Free alcohol, hangovers, bisexual friends and a girl called Boozie Suzie ... inside the student life of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Last updated at 00:52am on 07.01.08His antics at Oxford University would shock people in Pakistan awaiting Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's return to take over the political dream shaped by his murdered mother Benazir.
The 19-year-old's preparation for his role in one of the world's strictest Muslim states has certainly been unconventional.
Orthodox Muslims will be surprised to see the new leader of the Pakistani People's Party with his arms slung casually around two girls, one of whom declares herself as "bisexual" on a social networking website.
Conversations he has with friends on Facebook make reference to being hungover, his friendship with a girl he calls "Boozie Suzie" and the joys of "free alcohol".
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Monster's ball: Bilawal and friends in fancy dress for an Oxford University Hallowe'en event
There is no evidence that Bilawal drinks alcohol – but he was certainly living it up with his two female friends at a raucous black-tie party thrown by a student drinking society.
Bilawal had been enjoying the freedom of his first year at Oxford before he was named as his mother's successor after her assassination last month.
It was all a far cry from the country of his birth, which is bound by strict Muslim customs where drinking is forbidden, homosexuality is illegal and male and female friendships carefully controlled.
Bilawal and the girls were dressed up for the annual Cardinals' Cocktails event where, for a £10 entrance fee, students can drink as many cocktails as they can stomach.
The Cardinals is an exclusive all-male society favoured by the wealthiest undergraduates at Christ Church, Bilawal's college at Oxford.
They hold the event for non-members once a year to raise money for a lavish dinner to be enjoyed by their privileged members at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Only a handful of Christ Church students are allowed to join each year and they are initiated by being forced to down a bottle of port followed by eight pints of beer.
Bilawal and his friends were among hundreds of other students – not Cardinal members – at the bash this year.
Fortunately for him, his father, Asif Ali Zardari, has announced his son is too young to take power and that he will maintain day-to-day control of the party while Bilawal continues his studies.
Bilawal, who arrived at Christ Church in September to read history, grew up in Dubai after his mother left Pakistan for a self-imposed exile in 1999.
At Oxford he has not been seen at the student Islamist Society, eschewing the social events, at which only soft drinks are served.
One senior society member said: 'He doesn't come to any of our events.' He has chosen instead to spend his time with gregarious new friends.
Two of the girls to whom he is particularly close, as our pictures show, are described on Facebook as being "engaged" to each other – Julia Caterina Hartley and Kirini Kopcke.
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Ladies' man: Bilawal cosies up to bisexual friends Kirini Kopcke (left) and Julia Hartley, who say they are 'engaged'
Julia, who was educated in Brussels, lists herself as interested in both women and men and is a member of the university's Lesbian Gay And Bisexual Society.
She and Bilawal are obviously close, often pictured cosying up together, and after Benazir Bhutto's assassination on December 27 she wrote on her Facebook site: "Julia can only think of the Bhuttos." Many of Bilawal's conversations on Facebook can be openly viewed by dozens of his friends and countless other Oxford University students.
Bilawal flirts goodnaturedly with another female student, saying: "There is a void in my life now, it's a deep dark hole in my sloe [sic] ... that can only be filled with ... boozie suzie!!"
Fellow first-year student Sammy Jay is also a close friend.
In one exchange, Bilawal announces his intention to "do as much work as possible, go to the Coven, turn up to my tute the next day hungover and with incomplete work."
The Coven is an off-beat club well known for hosting a regular gay night for students.
The face of Bilawal appears on a number of pages throughout Facebook but only one, using the alias of Bilawal Lawalib, is authentic.
In one exchange, before Mrs Bhutto's assasination, he tells a female friend that he "misses his secret lover" and in another exclaims "what free alcohol! I may take you up on that when I get back to Oxford!".
Bilawal's grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who founded the Pakistan People's Party and was the country's first elected prime minister but was executed in 1979, attended the same college.
His mother was a popular student and president of the Oxford Union.
The current Oxford Union President, Luke Tryl, says the new Bhutto is "quite popular in Union circles; very charismatic and engaging".
Reader views (11)
Religion: No one will be answerable for another on the day of judgement, so let him live his life, grow and realise his own religion in the manner he sees fit. His father is there to guide him. This should not be anyone's problem.
Social: He is 19 and in first year university. Let the man grow. Rest assured he is in one of the leading institutions of the world, if you (the critic) turned out alright going to an average institution, even doing all the things he is doing, I am sure he will do just fine.
Personal: It is shallow to criticise anyone based on their affiliation with members of the opposite sex. Again his personal life is his own business as your life is your business. It is important for him to meet all different kinds of individuals so to grow as a person.
Do not interfere in the above and seriousness will come in time.
- Hamaad Haider, Karachi, Pakistan
Everyone has the freedom to make their own choices in their life. But no-one regardless of stature, creed or race, has to right to not practice what they preach. Should Bilawal choose to regard himself as a Muslim then he should follow the regulations and obligations required as to set an example since he has now become a leader of an infamous political party. If he feels, he will not be able to let go of his leisure then he should step down for the honour of his assassinated mother.
- Liberal Desi, Dubai
Religion is a personal thing...yes it is. But if a person is in the phase of becoming the leader then he/she should figure out all the customs and applications of the society he/she is living in. It is a custom of London to be liberal enough to live in town and live on it personally without intervention, but it is a custom in Pakistan that the leader has to manage himself according to the principles of the country. Every person lives according to the rules and regulations of the country. You do it your way in London, we do it our way in Pakistan.
I dislike Bilawal.
- Angry, Karachi, Pakistan
Let's see what western media does with this gentleman who has just become a leader of Pakistan's largest political party. There is a great responsiblity on his shoulder this time. Be very careful my dear Bilawar. I hope he will become a great leader of the Islamic world following the footsteps of his maternal father Zulfiqar Bhutto, who played a very significant role for the development of Muslim Ummah and laid the foundation of Pakistan's nuclear programme.
- Ishtiaq Lodhi, Leeds, West Yorkshire
I don't see what the big deal is. Religion is a personal thing.
- Sunny, Manchester
Muslims are blamed if they are extremists and Muslims are blamed if they are liberal.I s there any way out for them? This is a Moderate muslim teenager, why can't you let him live his life before he is being made a scapegoat in Asian politics?
- Shaz, London, UK
It is not his fault who his parents are, he is allowed to be friends with whom the hell he likes and it's only a bit of alcohol, people need to lighten up.
- Emma, Glasgow, Scotland
He should be left on his own to decide his way of life.
- Mansoor Yousaf, London
Yes, Amber of London, "he's only 19" - and he's just an ordinary guy, isn't he? NO, he isn't! He is the son of an assassinated mother and and assassinated grandfather, both leaders of a major political party and former rulers of a country; and he is the "heir" to this political line. Very far from being an ordinary guy. Also, of course, he is a Muslim - or at least he purports to be though his behaviour says otherwise. Obviously something is very seriously amiss here, but saying he's only 19 is a frivolous remark with no validity.
- Alfred Gormont, Hants.
He's an angel compared to previous Pakistani leaders, also note that Pakistan is not strict.
- Zak, London
Leave the poor guy alone. He's only 19!
- Amber, London, UK
