Fatima Bhutto, author, activist and the granddaughter of Pakistan’s late prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, set a new precedent by visiting a Hindu temple here after her marriage, stirring the social media with some users praising the gesture while others wondering what was she doing there.
The intimate nikkah ceremony of Fatima, 40, niece of slain premier Benazir Bhutto and daughter of Murtaza Bhutto, took place at her grandfather’s library here on Friday.
Fatima and her husband, Graham Gibran stirred social media when they visited the ancient Mahadev Temple in Karachi on Sunday as a homage to Hindu Sindhis laying the roots of Karachi in ancient times.
According to media reports, Fatima’s husband Grahamis an American citizen. Accompanied by her brother Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto junior and Hindu leaders at the temple, Fatima and her husband, a Christian, poured milk over the deity as per rituals.
The gesture received a mixed response after their picture hit social media. "Lovely to watch such images," a user with Twitter account handle 'Sindhi-Ajrak' commented on the picture.
"Lovely," another user wrote. But many wondered what she was doing in a Hindu temple.
"What is the essence of this rasam (ritual)," a Twitter user named Kulsoom Mughal asked.
"So in Sindh secularism is to follow Hinduism," another user said.
Her brother in a tweet said that due to the difficult circumstances felt by our fellow countrymen and women, we all felt it would be inappropriate to celebrate lavishly.
“Please keep Fatima and Graham (Gibran) in your prayers,” he stated.
The Bhutto family has remained a formidable force in Pakistan politics but has also been hit by tragedies.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged by the late military dictator Zia ul Haq in April 1979 after a military coup. His eldest daughter, Benazir Bhutto who also served as premier, was assassinated in Rawalpindi in December 2007.
Her brother Murtaza Bhutto was also killed along with six other party activists in September 1996 near the Bhutto’s residence in Clifton by the police at a time when his sister was the prime minister.Her younger brother Shahnawaz Bhutto was found dead in his apartment in France in 1985.
nikah ceremony of Fatima, 40, niece of slain premier Benazir Bhutto and daughter of Murtaza Bhutto, took place at her grandfather’s library here on Friday. Fatima and her husband Graham Gibran visited the ancient Mahadev Temple as a homage to Hindu Sindhis laying the roots of Karachi in ancient times. According to media reports, Fatima’s husband is an American citizen. Accompanied by her brother Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Junior and Hindu leaders, Fatima and her husband, a Christian, poured milk over the deity as per rituals.
Fatima Bhutto, Pakistani ace writer and granddaughter of former premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, got hitched in an intimate ceremony in Karachi.
The scion of the country’s dominant political family opted for a low-profile marriage but her wedding becomes the talk of the town and her fans and social media users started searching for the groom, which is an American national.
The daughter of the late PPP leader tied the knot with Graham Byra who embraced Islam before Nikah and adopted the name Gibran. Media reports claimed that Bhutto’s husband holds American nationality and was brought up in a Christian family. As of now, the 41-year-old groom remained his family identities under wraps due to privacy.
Mr Byra reportedly experienced vast cultures, traditions, and belief systems, as he turned out to be a wanderlust who also has an interest in spiritual ideologies. His desire to learn religion helped him to witness Islam and come to know its basic principles.
As per the available information, the groom attended a notable university for his graduation and holds a notable position in the corporate world.
On Friday, the bride’s brother Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Junior announced the wedding on social media on Friday, dropping a picture of the newlywed. In a social media post, he said “On behalf of our father, Shaheed Mir Murtaza Bhutto, and the Bhutto family, I’m very happy to share some happy news. My sister Fatima and Graham were married in an intimate nikkah ceremony yesterday at our home, 70 Clifton.”
Fatima’s big day was reportedly a private affair that was attended by family and acquaintances.