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Benazir Bhutto (b. 21 June 1953 in Karachi) became the first woman to lead a Muslim country in modern times when she was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1988, only to be deposed 20 months later by the President of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan using the 8th Amendment to dissolve the parliament and allowing for re-elections within 90 days. She was re-elected in 1993 but was dismissed three years later amid various corruption scandals by the then President of Pakistan Farooq Leghari again using his discretionary powers under the 8th Amendment. Some of these scandals involve contracts awarded to Swiss companies during her regime and she faces charges in Switzerland which remain unresolved. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, spent eight years in jail until he was released November 2004.
Early years
Benazir Bhutto is the eldest child of former Pakistani premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, son of Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto (an ethnic Sindhi) and Begum Nusrat Bhutto (who was of Kurdish-Iranian origin).
Bhutto attended Lady Jennings Nursery School and then the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Karachi. After two years of schooling at the Rawalpindi Presentation Convent, she was sent to the Jesus and Mary Convent at Murree. She passed her O-level examination at the age of 15. In April 1969, she received admission to Harvard University's Radcliffe College. In June 1973, Benazir graduated from Harvard with a degree in political science. Benazir attended Oxford University in the fall of 1973. She graduated with a masters degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and was elected to the standing committee of the prestigious Oxford Union.
Imprisonment, elections and exile
After completing university, she returned to Pakistan, but in the course of her father's imprisonment and execution, she was placed under house arrest. Having been allowed in 1984, to go back to the UK, she was leader in exile of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), her father's party, but was unable to make her political presence felt in Pakistan until the death of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.
On November 16, 1988, in the first open election in more than a decade, Benazir's PPP won the single largest bloc of seats in the National Assembly. Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister of a coalition government on December 2, becoming the youngest person (35 years old) and the first woman to head the government of a Muslim-majority state in modern times.
After being dismissed by the then president of Pakistan under charges of corruption, her party lost the elections held in October 1990. She served as the leader of the opposition while Nawaz Sharif became PM for the next 3 years. Again in October 1993 elections were held which were won by the PPP coalition, thus returning Bhutto back into office till 1996 when once again her government was dismissed on corruption charges.
Charges of corruption and abuse of power
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She was charged and later cleared in a number of corruption cases in Pakistan. She has also been charged with laundering state-owned money in Swiss banks and the case remains before a Swiss court. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, spent eight years in prison for several crimes. He was kept in solitary confinement and claims to have been tortured. Human rights groups also claim that Zardari's rights have been violated. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has recently apologized for his involvement in the prolonged imprisonment of Zardari and the cases filed against Bhutto. As a result, all convictions have been dropped and cases set for a re-trial. Zardari was released in November 2004. It is alleged that they stole hundreds of millions of dollars by demanding 'commissions' on government contracts and other dealings.
Afghanistan policy
It was during Bhutto's rule that the Taliban gained prominence in Afghanistan. Bhutto and the Taliban were openly opposed to each other. According to the Taliban codes, as a woman she had no right to be in power. The Pakistan military, however, were insistent and Bhutto agreed to provide some support. She and her government have said that they only provided moral support and nothing more. The Taliban took power in Kabul in September 1996
Policies for women
Bhutto's government provided more prominence to social issues of women, health and discrimination against women.
She aimed to set up women's police stations, courts and women's development banks.
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Current scenario
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In 2002 Pakistan's current president, Pervez Musharraf introduced a new amendment to Pakistan's constitution, banning prime ministers from serving more than two terms. This disqualifies Bhutto from ever holding the office again, and some said it was largely implemented due to the President desire to exclude previous leaders from future politics. Bhutto has been sharply critical of Musharraf's government and has participated in anti-government campaigns.
Bhutto is currently (as of September 2004) based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she cares for her children and her mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and from where she travels around the world giving lectures and keeping in touch with the party faithful.
Benazir and her three children (Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Asifa) were reunited with her husband and their father in December 2004 after a period of more than five years.
On 26 January 2006 Interpol issued Red Warrants against her and her husbands for avoiding courts of law in Pakistan.
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Books by Ms Bhutto
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- . ISBN 0671669834.
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See also
- Pakistan
- Politics of Pakistan
- Prime Minister of Pakistan
- Category:Prime Ministers of Pakistan
- Category:Pakistani people
- Pakistan Peoples Party
- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
- Nusrat Bhutto
- Ghinwa Bhutto
- Fatima Bhutto
- Murtaza Bhutto
| Preceded byMuhammad Khan Junejo | Prime Minister of Pakistan First Tenure |
Succeeded byGhulam Mustafa Jatoi (Caretaker) |
| Preceded byMoin Qureshi (Caretaker) | Prime Minister of Pakistan Second Tenure |
Succeeded byMiraj Khalid (Caretaker) |
External links
- Pakistan Peoples Party website
- Bhutto website
- Bhutto on Al-Qaeda
- Interview
- Asif Zardari Profile
- Profile
- Bhutto cleared of corruption
- Pakistani opposition protests Bhutto case
- Musharraf blocks PPP rallies