Underscoring the weight of legacy, [Benazir Bhutto]'s son, who has two younger sisters, was introduced at a news conference in his ancestral home village of Naudero as Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the first public use of his maternal surname.

A cabinet minister in Bhutto's two administrations as prime minister, Zardari subsequently spent eight years in prison on corruption charges. Although he has denied all allegations, so widespread was his reputation for taking kickbacks that he was known as "Mr. 10 Per Cent."

In passing the political torch to Bhutto's son and husband, her Pakistan People's Party pointedly refrained from seeking any delay in the parliamentary election scheduled to take place Jan. 8. The country's Election Commission, controlled by supporters of President Pervez Musharraf, is to announce a decision today about the timing of the vote.