Benazir Bhutto
Biography
In 1953, Benazir Bhutto was born into a prominent political family in Pakistan. After her schooling in England, she returned to Pakistan where her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhuott, was prime minister. After the government seized power, her father was sent to prison and was later hanged by the government of Zia Ul Haw. After multiple arrests, detainment, and threats for her protest against the government, Bhutto finally fled Pakistan. Back in London, she and her two brothers found a way to resist the military dictatorship in Pakistan by founding an underground organization. She returned to Pakistan in 1986 and continued her protesting against the government. In 1988, Bhutto became the first female prime minister in an Islamic country, and at only 35, one of the youngest chief executives in the world. She led an anti-corruption campaign after have been dismissed from office by president Ghulam, and in 1993 was re-elected as Prime Minister. Again in 1996 Bhutto was dismissed from office, this time by President Leghari. Tensions increased because of the fundamentalist Islamic movement, and Bhutto was again forced to leave her country. Bhutto's dedication to serving her country was unwavering. After living exiled in London for nine years, she returned to her country amidst opposition from radicals and a hostile government. A suicide bomber attempted to assassinate Bhutto within hours of her return. She survived, but more than 100 people died in the attack. Shortly before national elections that could have put her Pakistan People's Party back in power, a gunman shot at her car, and detonated a bomb that killed himself, twenty bystanders, and Bhutto. One year after her assassination, on December 27, 2007, Bhutto received the United Nations Prize for the Field of Human Rights. She will be remembered by many for her lifetime commitment to the restoration of democracy in Pakistan.
Quotations
"Democracy is necessary to peace and to undermining the forces of terrorism."
"It's true that General Musharraf opposes my return, seeing me as a symbol of democracy in the country. He is comfortable with dictatorship. I hope better sense prevails."
References
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