kam
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Bhutto Biography Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto Date of birth: June 21, 1953 Date of death: December 27, 2007 Print Biography
Benazir Bhutto was born in Karachi, Pakistan to a prominent political family. At age 16 she left her homeland to study at Harvard's Radcliffe College. After completing her undergraduate degree at Radcliffe she studied at England's Oxford University, where she was awarded a second degree in 1977.
Later that year she returned to Pakistan where her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, had been elected prime minister, but days after her arrival, the military seized power and her father was imprisoned. In 1979 he was hanged by the military government of General Zia Ul Haq.
Bhutto herself was also arrested many times over the following years, and was detained for three years before being permitted to leave the country in 1984. She settled in London, but along with her two brothers, she founded an underground organization to resist the military dictatorship. When her brother died in 1985, she returned to Pakistan for his burial, and was again arrested for participating in anti-government rallies.
She returned to London after her release, and martial law was lifted in Pakistan at the end of the year. Anti-Zia demonstrations resumed and Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in April 1986. The public response to her return was tumultuous, and she publicly called for the resignation of Zia Ul Haq, whose government had executed her father.
She was elected co-chairwoman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) along with her mother, and when free elections were finally held in 1988, she herself became Prime Minister. At 35, she was one of the youngest chief executives in the world, and the first woman to serve as prime minister in an Islamic country.
Only two years into her first term, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan dismissed Bhutto from office. She initiated an anti-corruption campaign, and in 1993 was re-elected as Prime Minister. While in office, she brought electricity to the countryside and built schools all over the country. She made hunger, housing and health care her top priorities, and looked forward to continuing to modernize Pakistan.
At the same time Bhutto faced constant opposition from the Islamic fundamentalist movement. Her brother Mir Murtaza, who had been estranged from Benazir since their father's death, returned from abroad and leveled charges of corruption at Benazir's husband, Asif Ali Zardari. Mir Murtaza died when his bodyguard became involved in a gunfight with police in Karachi. The Pakistani public was shocked by this turn of events and PPP supporters were divided over the charges against Zardari.
In 1996 President Leghari of Pakistan dismissed Benazir Bhutto from office, alleging mismanagement, and dissolved the National Assembly. A Bhutto re-election bid failed in 1997, and the next elected government was overthrown by the military. Bhutto's husband was imprisoned, and once again, she was forced to leave her homeland. For ten years, she and her children lived in exile in London, where she continued to advocate the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. Her successor as Prime Minister was expelled within hours of an attempted return from exile. Nevertheless, in the autumn of 2007, she announced plans to return to her native country.
Despite death threats from radical Islamists, Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October 2007 and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Within hours of her arrival, she survived an apparent assassination attempt when a suicide bomber attacked her motorcade. Although she escaped injury, more than 100 bystanders were killed. Despite this violent opposition to her return, Benazir Bhutto enjoys widespread popularity and is expected to lead her party in the next election.
This page last revised on Oct 21, 2007 10:25 PST
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kam
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Obituary: Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto followed her father into politics, and both of them died because of it - he was executed in 1979, she fell victim to an apparent suicide bomb attack.
Ms Bhutto had a volatile political career
Her two brothers also suffered violent deaths.
Like the Nehru-Gandhi family in India, the Bhuttos of Pakistan are one of the world's most famous political dynasties. Benazir's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was prime minister of Pakistan in the early 1970s.
His government was one of the few in the 30 years following independence that was not run by the army.
Born in 1953 in the province of Sindh and educated at Harvard and Oxford, Ms Bhutto gained credibility from her father's high profile, even though she was a reluctant convert to politics.
She was twice prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996.
Stubbornness
On both occasions she was dismissed from office by the president for alleged corruption.
The dismissals typified her volatile political career, which was characterised by numerous peaks and troughs. At the height of her popularity - shortly after her first election - she was one of the most high-profile women leaders in the world.
Young and glamorous, she successfully portrayed herself as a refreshing contrast to the overwhelmingly male-dominated political establishment.
But after her second fall from power, her name came to be seen by some as synonymous with corruption and bad governance.
Asif Zardari has faced numerous corruption charges
The determination and stubbornness for which Ms Bhutto was renowned was first seen after her father was imprisoned and charged with murder by Gen Zia ul-Haq in 1977, following a military coup. Two years later he was executed.
Ms Bhutto was imprisoned just before her father's death and spent most of her five-year jail term in solitary confinement. She described the conditions as extremely hard.
During stints out of prison for medical treatment, Ms Bhutto set up a Pakistan People's Party office in London, and began a campaign against General Zia.
She returned to Pakistan in 1986, attracting huge crowds to political rallies.
After Gen Zia died in an explosion on board his aircraft in 1988, she became one of the first democratically elected female prime ministers in an Islamic country.
Corruption charges
During both her stints in power, the role of Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Zardari, proved highly controversial.
He played a prominent role in both her administrations, and has been accused by various Pakistani governments of stealing millions of dollars from state coffers - charges he denies, as did Ms Bhutto herself.
Many commentators argued that the downfall of Ms Bhutto's government was accelerated by the alleged greed of her husband.
None of about 18 corruption and criminal cases against Mr Zardari has been proved in court after 10 years. But he served at least eight years in jail.
He was freed on bail in 2004, amid accusations that the charges against him were weak and going nowhere.
Ms Bhutto also steadfastly denied all the corruption charges against her, which she said were politically motivated.
She faced corruption charges in at least five cases, all without a conviction, until amnestied in October 2007.
President Pervez Musharraf granted Ms Bhutto and others an amnesty
She was convicted in 1999 for failing to appear in court, but the Supreme Court later overturned that judgement.
Soon after the conviction, audiotapes of conversations between the judge and some top aides of then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were discovered that showed that the judge had been under pressure to convict.
Ms Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999 to live abroad, but questions about her and her husband's wealth continued to dog her.
She appealed against a conviction in the Swiss courts for money-laundering.
During her years outside Pakistan, Ms Bhutto lived with her three children in Dubai, where she was joined by her husband after he was freed in 2004.
She was a regular visitor to Western capitals, delivering lectures at universities and think-tanks and meeting government officials.
Army mistrust
Ms Bhutto returned to Pakistan on 18 October 2007 after President Musharraf signed into law an ordinance granting her and others an amnesty from corruption charges.
Observers said the military regime saw her as a natural ally in its efforts to isolate religious forces and their surrogate militants.
She declined a government offer to let her party head the national government after the 2002 elections, in which the party received the largest number of votes.
In the months before her death, she had emerged again as a strong contender for power.
Some in Pakistan believe her secret talks with the military regime amounted to betrayal of democratic forces as these talks shored up President Musharraf's grip on the country.
Others said such talks indicated that the military might at long last be getting over its decades-old mistrust of Ms Bhutto and her party, and interpreted it as a good omen for democracy.
Western powers saw in her a popular leader with liberal leanings who could bring much needed legitimacy to Mr Musharraf's role in the "war against terror".
Unhappy family
Benazir Bhutto was the last remaining bearer of her late father's political legacy.
Her brother, Murtaza - who was once expected to play the role of party leader - fled to the then-communist Afghanistan after his father's fall.
From there, and various Middle Eastern capitals, he mounted a campaign against Pakistan's military government with a militant group called al-Zulfikar.
He won elections from exile in 1993 and became a provincial legislator, returning home soon afterwards, only to be shot dead under mysterious circumstances in 1996.
Benazir's other brother, Shahnawaz - also politically active but in less violent ways than Murtaza - was found dead in his French Riviera apartment in 1985.
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kam
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Don't recall when I first saw her speak on a television program or when I read her book.
I think she also was a friend of Keith Galbrieth (sp?) economist.
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CaliforniaLyme
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I met her when I was in high school. She spoke at UCLA, this was before she was PM, and there were only a handful of people in the room. it was not a large auditorium but a large conference room and it was almost deserted- there were maybe 30 people there.
My Mom & I were appalled- no one from the mainstream Western MEdia was even there!! LA Times?? Nope. No one except India West reporters, some UCLA students and a handful of others. She was a charsimatic, lovely woman and so, so brave.
Her book is called Daughter of Destiny, her autobiography...
She was wonderful, I have held her up to my daughters as a role model. My older daughter Evan has heard the story 100 times of how I met her- seriously- yesterday when she came into the room and heard the morning news she is probably one of the only USA 10 year olds who stopped in her tracks and said, "Benazir Bhutto? NO!" I wept for her myself. She was a wonderful person.
Meeting her in high school was a huge deal for me. I had never met anyone so brave, ever, before. She knew then, way back then, that she was facing possible death, and she continued to make choices that put her in danger of it her entire life because she believed in the cause. She is a real heroine, the bravest person I have ever met in my life.
Right now my mom is in Hyderabad which is a storng Muslim city in India, the fifth largest city in India (everyone ahs always heard of the first 4- Mumbai/Bombay, Calcutta, New Dehli & MAdras- HYDERABAD is the 5th largest). So she is among many people grieving Benazir Bhutto. Sincerely, Sarah Olson
whose Mom is Dr. Karen Leonard UC Irvine (and don't buy these books, they are dense academic tomes not fun reading in any way, I am just illustrating my familys interest in Pakistan/India)
Locating Home: India's Hyderabadis Abroad by Karen Leonard
Muslims in the United States: The State of Research by Karen Isaksen Leonard
The South Asian Americans (The New Americans) by Karen Isaksen Leonard
Social History of an Indian Caste: The Kayasths of Hyderabad by Karen Isaksen Leonard
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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I read somewhere that she returned to Pakistan with the urging of our current administration...Wolfowitz as go between?
What we hear and what we know is probably not sufficient to make judgements...but she appears to have been a charismatic leader who was physically unfraid. Most likely she had good intent. Sadly, it appears that her actions were not as good as her words as she did not help or was unable to help the down trodden during her time of leadership in Pakistan.
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just don
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Strangest thing,,,her cause of death changed three times yesterday.
They say NOW she hit her head on the sunroof handle and caused a fatal skull fracture!!
AND then tonights news of burning looting and rioting because she died!! HOW short sighted is THAT when all that will do is cause more heartache and personal strife!!always--just don--
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kam
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Wow. Very interesting CA Lyme.
I saw her speak on a television program after her leadership.
It was a complicated matter and not one of her leadership being able to do what they wanted to do.
Can't recall the details but there were powers to be that were more in control than she was at the time.
I was not able to read the above articles.
But, if my memory is correct she too was imprisoned and slept on a concrete floor with rats around her.
She also had wealth obviously with her education.
Amazing woman.
I have not heard much about her children or husband.
I have been disappointed her the converage I have seen regarding her death.
I would like to hear more about her and what she ahs done instead of how she died or who may have killed her or how those running for office would handle things.
Don't understand that.
didn't see Anderson Cooper's perspective on it. perhaps he did something along those lines.
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CaliforniaLyme
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She has two daughters and a son, the son was born while she was in office and was a popular favorite because of that... They have all been living in exile in Dubai before she came back- she wrote a book early on- Daughter of Destiny- about her earlier life and choices. She actually believed the CIA killed her one brother who was poisoned- believed that for years before she became more friendly with the US-
The cause of death thing is just insulting- very upsetting- Muslim & Jewish law are both the same regaridng corpses- they are supposed to be buried before the day ends or 24 hours- so that is why they rushed to bury her-
and autopsy is desecration- bad form of Musharif to do it this way- very bad form!!!!
I seriously was impressed by ehr and have given my older daughter lectures re "If Benazir Bhutto could blah blah blah then YOU can clean your room!" She was So lovely in real life- just stunning physically and spiritually- she was so magnetic-
I am grateful I got to meet her= Sincerely, Sarah
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
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YES! She would have been proud!!! There is an old Indian saying-Death before Dishonour! GOOD for them!! She would have been proud of them!!!
"My mother always said democracy is the best revenge." ******************************** Bhutto's Son, Husband to Succeed Her By ZARAR KHAN,AP
Posted: 2007-12-30 16:51:07 Filed Under: World News
NAUDERO, Pakistan (Dec. 30) - Benazir Bhutto's 19-year-old son -- a student with no political experience -- was named symbolic leader of her party Sunday, while her husband took effective control, extending Pakistan's most enduring political dynasty.
The major parties appeared to agree that the elections should take place as scheduled on Jan. 8 despite street violence and political turmoil triggered by the assassination of Bhutto. The Election Commission is to discuss the timing of the polls Monday.
Photo Gallery: Picking Up the Pieces AP (2) The Pakistan Peoples Party tapped Benazir Bhutto's son, Bilawal Zardari, left, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, Sunday to lead the assasianted opposition leader's party. Bhutto died after an attack at a campaign rally Thursday. 1 of 24 A successful vote would bolster U.S.-backed plans to restore democracy to the nuclear-armed country as it battles rising Islamic extremism.
Rioting subsided Sunday after destruction that left at least 44 dead and caused ten of millions of dollars in damage, but bitterness remained over the government's response to the gun and suicide attack that killed Bhutto.
The appointment of Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, was not without its own complications. A former Cabinet minister who spent eight years in prison on corruption accusations, he is known as "Mr. 10 Percent" for allegedly taking kickbacks and is viewed with suspicion by many Pakistanis.
At a news conference on Sunday, Zardari said the opposition party -- Pakistan's largest -- had no confidence in the government's ability to bring the killers to justice and urged the United Nations to establish a committee like the one investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The decisions on the future of Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party were made at a closed-door meeting in the sprawling family estate in the south of the country where the two-time former prime minister grew up.
The eldest of Bhutto's three children, Bilawal Zardari, accepted the party's leadership, but said he would remain at Oxford University.
He said his father, who was officially designated co-chairman, would be the effective party leader.
"The party's long struggle for democracy will continue with renewed vigor," Bilawal told a news conference that was repeatedly interrupted by emotional chants from Bhutto's supporters.
"My mother always said democracy is the best revenge."
Bhutto's grandfather was a senior figure in the movement that helped Pakistan split from India and lead it to independence in 1947. Her father -- Pakistan's first elected prime minister -- founded the Pakistan Peoples Party in 1967 and its electoral success since then has largely depended on the Bhutto name.
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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randibear
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she was truly a courageous woman. she knew she was going to die one day and went ahead. so very sad.
can't help but wonder if this is not the beginning of something far more sinister......
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