Biography of Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto (born in Karachi, Pakistan, June 21, 1953) was
the first woman to lead a Muslim state in the post-colonial.
The charismatic Bhutto was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan
in 1988, but 20 months later, the president deposed by
country's military-supported, Ghulam Ishaq Khan who
controversially used the 8th Amendment to dissolve
parliament and force an election. Bhutto was re-elected in
1993, but was dismissed three years later amid various
corruption scandals by then president of the ruling at the time,
Farooq Leghari, who also used the powers given special
consideration by the 8th Amendment.
Bhutto was the eldest son of former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (who was hanged by
the military government of Pakistan under exceptional circumstances) and Begum Nusrat Bhutto, who
was of Kurdish Iran. Her paternal grandfather was Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, a Sindhi and a key figure in
Pakistan's independence movement.
Bhutto studied at Kindergarten Lady Jennings and then at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Karachi.
After two years of study at the Rawalpindi Presentation Convent, she was sent to the Jesus and Mary
Convent at Murree. She passed her O-level examinations (in the British education system, the equivalent
of high school grade 1). In April 1969, he was accepted at Radcliffe College, Harvard University. In June
1973, Benazir graduated from Harvard with a degree in political science. He was also elected to Phi Beta
Kappa. He then attended Oxford University in the fall of 1973 and graduated with a Master's Degree in
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. She was elected President of the prestigious Oxford Union.
After completing his university education, Bhutto returned to Pakistan, but because his father was
imprisoned and later executed, he was placed under house arrest. After being allowed to return to
England in 1984, he became the leader of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the party his father, in exile, but
he could not make his political power can be felt in Pakistan until the death of General Muhammad Zia-
ul-Haq.
November 16, 1988, in a first open election in more than ten years, Bhutto, PPP, managed to get
number of seats in the National Assembly. Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister of a coalition
government on December 2, 1988 and by the age of 35 he became the youngest person and first
woman to lead a country with a Muslim majority people in modern times.
After being dismissed by the president of Pakistan at that time on corruption charges, Bhutto's party lost
the general elections held in October. He became leader of the opposition while Nawaz Sharif became
prime minister during the next three years. When elections were held again in October 1993, which was
won by a coalition of the PPP, Bhutto returning to the office until 1996, when the government once
again disbanded on charges of corruption.
Bhutto was accused of corruption but later cleared his name. He is also accused of money laundering
countries in Swiss banks, in a case that still remain in the Swiss courts. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari,
languished for eight years in prison, although he was never convicted. He was placed in a separate
detention and torture claims. Groups of human rights also claimed that Zardari's rights have been
violated. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has recently apologized for his involvement in the
prolonged detention of Zardari and the cases filed against Bhutto. Zardari was released in November
2004.
Benazir since 1999 lived in exile in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and there he was caring for the child and
his mother who suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He also travels the world to give lectures and keep
links with Pakistan People's Party supporters.
Bhutto and three children (Bilawal, Bakhtawar, and Asifa) were reunited with her husband and their
father in December 2004 after more than five years apart. Bhutto has vowed to return to Pakistan and
run again as prime minister in elections that are scheduled in November 2007. Dated October 18, 2007,
he returned to Pakistan to prepare themselves facing elections. On the way to a meeting, two bombs
exploded near a group that carries it. Bhutto survived, but at least 126 people were killed in the
incident.
Bios:
Born: Karachi, Pakistan, June 21, 1953
Occupation: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Party Politics: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
Father: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Husband: Asif Ali Zardari
Children:
* Bilawal
* Bakhtawar
* Asifa
Education:
* Kindergartens Lady Jennings
* Convent of Jesus and Mary in Karachi
* Rawalpindi Presentation Convent
* Jesus and Mary Convent at Murree
* Degree in Political Science from Radcliffe College at Harvard University (April 1969 - June 1973)
* Masters Degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University (Graduated 1973)
Career:
* The leader of Pakistan People's Party (PPP, 1984)
* Prime Minister of Pakistan (December 2, 1988 - August 6, 1990 and 18 July 1993-5 November 1996)
Book:
* Benazir Bhutto, Foreign Policy in Perspective (1978)
* Benazir Bhutto, The Way Out: Interviews, Impressions, Statements, and Messages, Mahmood
Publications (1988)
* Benazir Bhutto, Daughter of the East, Hamish Hamilton (1989)
* Benazir Bhutto, Daughter of Destiny, Simon and Schuster (1989)
* Benazir Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto Defends Herself, Rhotas Books (1990)
* Benazir Bhutto, Issues in Pakistan, Jang Publishers (1993)