Back to uni for Bhutto (From Oxford Mail)

Back to uni for Bhutto

10:09am Saturday 12th January 2008 in News By Giles Sheldrick

If Bilawal Bhutto Zardari thought his wish for a quiet university life would be granted by the British media, yesterday's photocall in Oxford probably gave him a clue.

Wheeled out to stroll among the immaculately manicured lawns of Christ Church quad in front of a 30-strong pack of press photographers, the 19-year-old looked like the proverbial rabbit-in-the-headlights.

The thinking behind the appearance was that if the son of murdered Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto posed for pictures now, the media would leave him alone for the rest of his studies.

But as the man who has been appointed co-leader of his mother's Pakistan People's Party, he has suddenly been thrust into the international spotlight.

A month ago, he was a relatively ordinary fresher enjoying a relatively normal student life.

Not so now.

As cameras flashed in the pouring rain, the first year history undergraduate was forced to walk back and forth with a Bodleian Library umbrella held up, down and any which way the Press pack demanded.

Since his mother's murder on December 27, he has been catapulted from obscurity to a key player in the future of Pakistan, a country whose languages he can scarcely speak.

However, as photographers did their work, he remained calm, polite and collected as he was forced to turn and smile at every angle imaginable.

Although he refused to answer questions, the Oxford Mail was told he has asked to stay in the same room he has had since his arrival back in September.

Naturally, private security consultants and undercover police were in attendance.

And so were Thames Valley Police officers who had set up a makeshift security check in Christ Church Lodge - purely for journalists arriving at yesterday's event.

A seven-strong team ushered photographers through airport-style security checks, although these will disappear once Hilary term starts on Monday.

A university source said: "We take security here very seriously, but as far as we are concerned he (Mr Bhutto) is just another student.

"We have had many famous students here - although most become famous once they leave."

His mother studied philosophy, politics and economics at Lady Margaret Hall between 1973 and 1977.

One of the famous bowler hat-wearing Christ Church custodians said Mr Bhutto was probably the most high-profile student to study at the college - and given the tension in Pakistan after his mother's assassination, security would be be tight.

Students have been told not to talk to journalists.

But when asked about Mr Bhutto's arrival one said: "Christ Church is a pretty well known place - and these things happen all the time."