Benazir Bhutto

@Prime Ministers, Facts and Childhood ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Benazir Bhutto was the head of Pakistan People’s Party and served as the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan Assassination Pakistani Harvard University Oxford University Leaders Political Leaders Prime Ministers Gemini Celebrities Popularly known as the Iron Lady of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto opened the doors of politics for women in Pakistan. Not only did she become the first woman to head a major political party, but she went on to become the first and till date, the only female Prime Minister of Pakistan. She served this powerful position twice in her lifetime. Born in a prominent political family, she was exposed to political thoughts and beliefs since a young age. The imprisonment and the subsequent execution of her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, brought Benazir into the centre stage of Pakistan politics as she succeeded her father as the titular head of the Pakistan People’s Party. Most of her ideals were centred on democratic and social capitalist policies. Her charismatic presence coupled with political shrewdness and unabated courage earned her the nickname ‘Iron Lady’. Most of her contemporaries and rivals respectfully addressed her as ‘B.B’. During her term as the Prime Minister from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996, she brought about several political and economic policies for industrial development and growth. She favoured denationalisation of state-owned corporations and took a hard stand against trade unions and rigid labour markets. However, high levels of corruption, escalating unemployment and stifling recession brought about an end to her governance. To know more about her life and profile, scroll further.

Personal Details

Birthday: June 21, 1953 Died on: December 27, 2007 Nationality: Pakistani Famous: Harvard University, Oxford University, Leaders, Political Leaders, Prime Ministers Spouses: Asif Ali Zardari Siblings: Murtaza Bhutto, Sanam Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto Childrens: Aseefa Bhutto, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtwar Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Information Detail Birthday June 21, 1953 Died on December 27, 2007 Nationality Pakistani Famous Harvard University, Oxford University, Leaders, Political Leaders, Prime Ministers Spouses Asif Ali Zardari Siblings Murtaza Bhutto, Sanam Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto Childrens Aseefa Bhutto, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtwar Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Universities Harvard University,Oxford University Lady Margaret Hall Oxford (1973 – 1977) St Catherine's College Oxford (1976 – 1977) Radcliffe College (1969 – 1973) Karachi Grammar School University of Oxford Harvard University Notable Alumnis Harvard University Oxford University Cause of death Assassination Birth Place Karachi Political Ideology Pakistan Peoples Party Religion Islam Gender Female Father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Mother Nusrat Bhutto Sun Sign Gemini Born in Karachi Died at Age 54

Karachi

Benazir Bhutto born at Unsplash Birth Place

She married Asif Ali Zardari on December 18, 1987. The couple was blessed with two daughters and a son. Unsplash Personal Life

Following her return to Pakistan, while campaigning for the parliamentary elections, she was assassinated on December 27, 2007. She was leaving for the campaign rally for PPP at Liaquat National Bagh, when she was shot by a gunman while she waved the crowd through the sunroof of her car. Subsequently, explosives were detonated near the vehicle killing approximately 20 people Unsplash Personal Life

She was taken to Rawalpindi General Hospital where she was declared dead by evening. A three-day period of mourning was declared by President Pervez Musharraf. Unsplash Personal Life

Benazir Bhutto was born to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Begum Nusrat Ispahani. She was the eldest of the four siblings. Her father was the former prime minister of Pakistan. As such, since young, she was exposed to political ideas and policies. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

She completed her early education from Pakistan and went to US to enrol herself at Radcliffe College, Harvard University. In 1973, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with cum laude honours in comparative government. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

From 1973 until 1977, she studied philosophy, politics and economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, United Kingdom. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

In 1976, she became the first Asian woman to be elected as the President of Oxford Union. Unsplash Childhood & Early Life

Upon her return to Pakistan in 1977, she along with her family was placed under house arrest following the dethronement of her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto from the prime ministership and the emergence of General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq to power. Unsplash Political Career

She inherited the leadership of her father’s political party, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and spent the next two years organizing rally to force General Haq to drop murder charges against her father. Unsplash Political Career

Against local plea and international pressure, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged on April 1979, following which she was arrested and moved to Larkana Central Jail. In 1981, she was imprisoned in a desert cell in Sindh Province. Unsplash Political Career

Succumbing to immense international pressure, she along with her family was allowed to travel abroad in 1984 for medical aid. Following her recuperation, she resumed her political pursuit, becoming a leader in exile for PPP, raising awareness of the state of political prisoners and human right violation under Zia regime. Unsplash Political Career

In 1986, she returned to Pakistan after two years of self-exile upon the lifting of the martial law and launched a nationwide campaign for open elections. Unsplash Political Career

Posthumously, she was named one of seven winners of the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights. Unsplash Awards & Achievements

Information	Detail
Birthday	June 21, 1953
Died on	December 27, 2007
Nationality	Pakistani
Famous	Harvard University, Oxford University, Leaders, Political Leaders, Prime Ministers
Spouses	Asif Ali Zardari
Siblings	Murtaza Bhutto, Sanam Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto
Childrens	Aseefa Bhutto, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtwar Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Universities	Harvard University,Oxford University Lady Margaret Hall Oxford (1973 – 1977) St Catherine's College Oxford (1976 – 1977) Radcliffe College (1969 – 1973) Karachi Grammar School University of Oxford Harvard University
Notable Alumnis	Harvard University Oxford University
Cause of death	Assassination
Birth Place	Karachi
Political Ideology	Pakistan Peoples Party
Religion	Islam
Gender	Female
Father	Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto
Mother	Nusrat Bhutto
Sun Sign	Gemini
Born in	Karachi
Died at Age	54

Benazir Bhutto

Pakistani

Jun 21, 1953

Biography

Personal Details

Karachi