Benazir Bhutto-the only female Prime Minister of Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto born on June 21, 1953 daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became
the first Prime Minister in a mainly muslim country as well as the second Prime
Minister to be elected by her people. Viewed as the successor of Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto she was Zulfikar’s first child and became PPP’s (Pakistan People Party)
leader after her father. After completing her early studies in Pakistan she left
for the U.S. to pursue higher education attending Radcliffe College from 1969 to
1973 later enrolling in Harvard University where she graduated in comparative
government. After achieving a Bachelor of Arts degree she travelled to the
United Kingdom where she studied at Oxford University from the time period
of 1973 to 1977, completing a course in International Law and Diplomacy.
At last Benzair Bhutto returned to Pakistan the same year she graduated from
Oxford University. After arriving she was immediately put under house arrest
considering her fathers government had just been overthrown by Zia ul Haq
who was leading a military revolt. One year later disaster struck as Zulfikar’s
case closed, pleading him guilty. Refusing to give up his dignity and pride
Zulfikar would not beg for his life hence Zia ul-haq carrying out an act of
utmost cruelty hanged him on charges of authorizing the murder of an
opponent.
It seemed misfortune and tragedy was fond of the Bhutto family when in 1980
Bhutto’s brother Shahnawaz was killed in his apartment on the riviera .
Although his family insisted he was poisoned, no charges were brought.
Another one of Benazir’s siblings- Murtaza Bhutto was shot in a firing situated
in Karachi.
Benazir Bhutto later on married a landowner Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi. The
couple had three children, a son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and two daughters;
Bakhtawar and Aseefa Bhutto- Zardari.
Misfortune struck as Bhutto’s homecoming rally-after returning from an exile
of 8 years- was hit by a suicide attack. Estimates suggest 136 people were killed
which till this day is crushing to hear. Bhutto survived by ducking down behind
her armoured vehicle. Bhutto had described it as “Pakistan’s blackest day”.
It seemed Benazir would not be an exception to being murdered as she was
shot by an assasin who blew himself up immediately after. The much loved
political figure was mourned by hundreds of thousands. The grief that struck
Pakistan’s citizens on hearing about Bhutto’s death was terrible. It showed that
this woman in fact had clearly won Pakistan’s hearts and was history in the
making.
Grade: IG-1
RMS Notting Hill Campus Jhelum