Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto (21 June 1953 – 27 December 2007) was a Pakistani politician who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman to head a democratic government in a majority Muslim nation. Bhutto was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a former Prime Minister of Pakistan, and was a prominent figure in the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Early Life and Education

Benazir Bhutto was born in Karachi, Pakistan, to a politically influential family. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was a prominent politician who founded the Pakistan Peoples Party. Benazir was educated at Harvard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in comparative government. She later attended Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, and was elected president of the Oxford Union, becoming the first Asian woman to head the prestigious debating society.

Political Career

Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in 1977, shortly before her father was overthrown in a military coup led by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. After her father's execution in 1979, Bhutto became the leader of the PPP and a symbol of resistance against military rule.

In 1988, following the death of Zia-ul-Haq in a plane crash, Bhutto led the PPP to victory in the general elections and became the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Her tenure was marked by efforts to modernize the economy and improve the status of women, but her government was dismissed in 1990 on charges of corruption.

Bhutto was re-elected as Prime Minister in 1993, but her second term was also marred by allegations of corruption and economic mismanagement. Her government was dismissed again in 1996.

Exile and Return

After her second dismissal, Bhutto went into self-imposed exile in Dubai and London, where she lived until 2007. During her time in exile, she continued to lead the PPP and remained a vocal critic of the military regime in Pakistan.

In 2007, Bhutto returned to Pakistan to participate in the general elections scheduled for January 2008. Her return was marked by a tragic assassination attempt on 18 October 2007, which she survived. However, on 27 December 2007, Bhutto was assassinated in a terrorist attack during a rally in Rawalpindi.

Legacy

Benazir Bhutto's legacy is complex and multifaceted. She is remembered as a pioneering female leader in the Muslim world and a symbol of democratic resistance. Her assassination was a significant event in Pakistan's political history, leading to widespread unrest and a renewed focus on the country's struggle with extremism.

See Also

• Pakistan Peoples Party
• Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
• Asif Ali Zardari
• History of Pakistan

References

Benazir,

 Daughter of Destiny: An Autobiography, 
  
 Simon & Schuster, 
 1989, 
  
  
 ISBN 978-0671687251,

Benazir Bhutto Full text,

 Encyclopaedia Britannica, 
  
  
  
 Accessed on: 2023-10-15.