Shady reputation trails Bhutto's husband

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -

Benazir Bhutto's husband, who took effective control of his slain wife's party Sunday, is a former Cabinet minister who spent eight years in prison on corruption accusations and is known as "Mr. 10 Percent" for allegedly taking kickbacks.
In her will, read Sunday, Bhutto named Asif Ali Zardari her successor as head of the Pakistan Peoples Party in case of her death. But Zardari, who is viewed with suspicion by many Pakistanis, appointed his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as official chairman of the party that the 19-year-old's grandfather founded in 1967.
While the elder Zardari is a prominent figure in Pakistani politics, earning a checkered reputation because of allegations that he made big money during Bhutto's government, his son is a suave, English speaking, Oxford student who has spent much of his life abroad.
He said at a news conference Sunday that his father will "take care" of the party while he completes his education.

Source: AP

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