Historical Figure
Benazir Bhutto
1953–2007
Prime Minister of Pakistan (1988–1990; 1993–1996)
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Biography
Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistani politician and stateswoman who served as the prime minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country. Ideologically a liberal and a secularist, she chaired or co-chaired the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) from the early 1980s until her assassination in 2007.
In Their Own Words (5)
To make peace, one must be an uncompromising leader. To make peace, one must also embody compromise. Throughout the ages, leadership and courage have often been synonymous. Ultimately, leadership requires action: daring to take steps that are necessary but unpopular, challenging the status quo in order to reach a brighter future. And to push for peace is ultimately personal sacrifice, for leadership is not easy. It is born of a passion, and it is a commitment. Leadership is a commitment to an idea, to a dream, and to a vision of what can be. And my dream is for my land and my people to cease fighting and allow our children to reach their full potential regardless of sex, status, or belief.
"Reflections on Working Towards Peace" in Architects of Peace: Visions of Hope in Words and Images (2000) edited by Michael Collopy , 2000
It is one thing being able to contest an election and to give the people hope that I can be the next prime minister. It is a totally different situation where the people of Pakistan are told that the results are already taken and the leader of your choice is banned.
As quoted in "I never asked for power" in The Guardian (15 August 2002) , 2002
If they only showed this much spunk when it came to containing the terrorists I don't think we would have such a problem.
On being prevented from participating in a march for democracy and being placed under house arrest. TIME video interview (13 November 2007). , 2007
I find that whenever I am in power, or my father was in power, somehow good things happen. The economy picks up, we have good rains, water comes, people have crops. I think the reason this happens is that we want to give love and we receive love.
As quoted in "I never asked for power" in The Guardian (15 August 2002) , 2002
I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger. People are worried. We will bring the country out of this crisis.
At the rally in Rawalpindi after which she was assassinated. (27 December 2007) , 2007
Timeline
The story of Benazir Bhutto, told in moments.
Her father is hanged by the military regime of Zia-ul-Haq. Benazir and her mother are repeatedly imprisoned. She spends years in solitary confinement, then exile.
Sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan at 35. The first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation. She's eight months pregnant during the campaign.
Dismissed by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan on corruption charges after 20 months. Intelligence services rig the next election against her. She's out.
Wins a second term. Pushes economic privatization and women's rights legislation. Dismissed again in 1996 on corruption charges. Goes into exile in Dubai and London for eight years.
Returns from exile to Karachi. A suicide bomber targets her motorcade. 139 people die. She survives by ducking inside her armored vehicle seconds before the blast.
Assassinated at a campaign rally in Rawalpindi. A gunman shoots her in the neck before detonating a suicide vest. She is 54. Pakistan erupts.
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