BENAZIR BHUTTO : 'MOHTARMA-E- MUQTANEESI AUR BENAZIR'

Whenever we think of Benazir Bhutto, pictures of a bold, outspoken lady with sharp looks, a woman symbolizing Islamic faith with a blend of modern approach, swearing a scarf and sunglasses nab our mind. After her death(27/12/2007) a phenomenon laid by her also seems to have faded away. But, we certainly cannot ignore and forget this personality.

She was born in a well-off Bhutto family in Karachi in 1953. After completing her early education from Pakistan, she moved to United States for higher education. There, she attended Radcliffe College and Harvard University(BA degree in comparative government) and then she moved to United Kingdom, where she pursued a degree in International Law and Diplomacy from Oxford. She returned to Pakistan in 1977. But, tragedy followed her family. She was placed under house-arrest after a military coup lead by General Zia-Ul-Haq overthrew her father's(Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto)government. A year after in 1978, her father was hanged on the charge of authorising the murder of his political opponent. She inherited her father's leadership of Pakistan People's Party(henceforth, referred as PPP). Tragic incidents such as killing of her brother, Shahnawaz at his apartment in 1984(her family insisted that he was poisoned but no charge could be brought) and killing of other brother, Murtaza in a gun battle in 1996(while she was in power) occurred. She moved to England in 1984 and became joint leader in exile of PPP. She returned to Pakistan in 1986 to launch a nationwide movement for open elections. She married a wealthy landowner, Asif Ali Zardari in the month of December, 1987. The couple had three children. Dictatorship of Zia-Ul- Haq ended in 1988, after he was killed in a plane crash.

Benazir Bhutto became the first ever democratically female leader of a Muslim nation in the world. She was elected as the Prime Minister of Pakistan on 1st December, 1988. She had lost in 1990 elections, and had to defend herself in court on several charges of misconduct while in office. She continued to remain the prominent focus of opposition and used to voice the discontent among the people of the country. She returned to power in 1993, and remained in power till 1996.  She remained in self-imposed exile in Dubai and Britain. She was convicted in 1999 on several charges of corruption. She continued to operate her party from abroad and was re-affirmed as PPP leader in 2002. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari was released from prison in 2004(on charges of corruption including a charge of laundering money through Swiss Banks), and he joined her family in London. She returned to Pakistan in October, 2007 when the Musharraf government granted her amnesty on all corruption charges, thus paving a way for her future political career. Her homecoming rally after 8 years in exile was hit by a suicide attack which left 136 people killed. She survived the attack after she ducked herself behind in an armored vehicle. The Musharraf government had imposed a state of Emergency and threatened to bring the supporters of Bhutto to streets in mass demonstrations. Bhutto had called it the 'blackest day' in the history of Pakistan.  Emergency was lifted in the month of December, 2007. After some days, Benazir had organized a rally in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. It was being forecasted as a comeback call and foray into power by PPP and its leader, Benazir Bhutto. But, on the dreadful day of 27/12/2007, she was killed after an assassin fired shots at her and then blew himself up. 28 others were also killed and more than a hundred were injured in the attack. She was buried at her family's mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Baksh, Ratodero Taluka, Larkana District, Sindh. A tumultuous situation prevailed throughout Pakistan and furious supporters rampaged through several cities torching cars, trains, stores which left 23 people killed.

Overall, Benazir Bhutto's political career has evoked a mixed response. She was a champion for the cause of women empowerment. Today parties from across Pakistan's political spectrum allow women to be a part of their organizations, and fully participate in elections. She had a firm belief in restoring democracy to her country and was a staunch opponent of growing global Islamic extremism. Her top priorities, included eradicating hunger and enhancing the medical facilities. Electricity was brought in the countryside and a large number of schools were built. At the same time, she was accused of corruption and bad governance. She failed to curb the problem of growing unemployment and economic slowdown and crime in the country. The then, President ousted her government using the Eight Amendment with charges of corruption, nepotism and despotism. She was respectfully addressed as 'BB' by her contemporaries and rivals. She was unable to contain corruption scandals in the country and failed to contain the racial tensions that were at its peak in Karachi. She could not bring into force the promises made by her government. During her years in exile, she capitalized on the situation which led a blotting effect on the image of Nawaz Sharif after the Kargil War in 1999 and frustration of the public of Pakistan with the military rule of Musharraf.  Just before a few days of her death, she was planning to visit American lawmakers to submit a  160 page report against the Musharraf government accusing them of taking steps to rig the January 2008 voting. Most of her ideals were focused on democracy and social capitalist policies. After her assassination, the baton of the party was passed on to his son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari whom Benazir had declared as her political successor. Though, in the political circle and sphere of Pakistani politics, he is considered to be immature and the one who lacks knowledge and experience. Jokingly, he is referred as 'Rahul Gandhi of Pakistan'.

His husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who was called 'Rangeela'(colourful for his attributes) went on to become the President of Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto was a woman with Islamic belief and practice with a space for western  ideas and approach. The charismatic personality of Benazir Bhutto coupled with political shrewdness and unabated courage earned her the nickname of 'Iron Lady'. She will continue to sway and inspire the people, especially the women of Pakistan and will remain one of the central figures in the history of Indian subcontinent and South Asia.