Rawalpindi, Dec. 8. The background politics and outlook of the new uncrowned kings of Pakistan are perhaps even more diverse than two distant wings of the country they represent. Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the unquestioned leader of West Pakistan, was born into a well-known and traditional Sindhi family in Larkana in 1928. His father, the late Sir Shahnawaz Khan Bhutto, was a Minister in the Bombay Government and was one of the advocates of the move to separate the Sindhi from the Bombay presidency in the 1930s. His son received a classical education. After graduating with honours in political science at the University of California, Mr. Bhutto completed his M. A. honours in jurisprudence at Christ Church, Oxford, and in 1952 he qualified in law at Lincoln’s Inn.

After lecturing at the University of Southampton he returned to Pakistan to practice law and enter public life. He was appointed Minister of Commerce in former President Ayub Khan’s revolutionary Government in 1958. Later, he took over the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs. It was not until he was given the portfolio of foreign affairs in 1963, however, that he began to make his name internationally as the eloquent and flamboyant protagonist of the Kashmiri cause.

After assuming office the young lawyer set about cementing Pakistan’s relationship with China and there can be no doubt that Peking is the pivot of Rawalpindi’s foreign policy today. Urbane and sophisticated, Mr. Bhutto advocates a direct confrontation with India. He is fiercely anti-American and would like to see Pakistan move closer to China. On internal matters, he is an advocate of strong central government and says that he will introduce Islamic socialism to Pakistan if he comes to power.

Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, “the tiger of Bengal” comes from a middle-class Bengali family and was educated and brought up in the turbulent world of Bengali politics. The 48-year-old leader began his political career at college in 1939 and since then has spent most of his life in and out of jail. He was first elected to the Bengal Assembly in 1946 but two years later he was jailed for participating in the provincial agitation for recognition of Bengali as an official language. In 1954 he was appointed as a Minister in the provincial government, but the fiery demagogue was gaoled within months. • He was given another Cabinet post, but in 1957 he resigned to organize mass politics. In 1962 he revived the flagging East Pakistan Awami League and was appointed as the party’s general secretary.

Ironically, the man who was called a traitor two years ago, is the man who is most likely to become Pakistan’s next Prime Minister. He would certainly work for a rapprochement with Delhi if he has his way. Essentially, he is pro-western but wants Pakistan to withdraw from Seato and Cento. This is, apparently, the only common ground between the two emerging leaders.