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Benazir was the first female head of state in a Muslim country, elected in 1988 at the age of 35, and again from 1993 to 1996, however, on both occasions she was removed from power by the then President on the basis of corruption.
During both her stints in power, the role of her husband, Asif Zardari was very controversial, as he has been accused by many of looting the Pakistani exchequer on a number of occasions (allegations which have not yet been proved in court).
Analysts have often claimed that her husbands alleged greed lead to the downfall of Benazir Bhutto’s popularity in Pakistan.
Benazir was exiled from Pakiistan in 1999 and moved to Dubai, where she lived with her three children, and was joined later by her husband in 2004, after he was released from prison.
She returned to Pakistan after almost eight years on the 18th of October 2007, as part of a deal brokered with President Musharraf, who dropped all corruption charges against her under the infamous ‘National Reconciliation Ordinance’ (NRO).
She was met with a failed suicide attack on her convoy on her way from the Karachi airport to attend a rally, where she was to address Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s tomb (the father of the nation).
In a life of many challenges, her father’s hanging in 1979 did not end her family’s ordeal. Seven years later, her brother Shahnawaz died in mysterious circumstances in the south of France while Murtaza was killed in 1996 on the streets of Karachi, caught in an exchange of fire between his bodyguards and the local police.
Benazir Bhutto was murdered on the 27th of December 2007, soon after a rally in Rawalpindi, just days before the parliamentary elections on January 8th 2008.
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Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By haiderg, December 30, 2007 at 08:10All of Pakistan is in grief over Benazir's death and anger at the present regime for making a mess of our country. Even those who had hitherto not supported Bhutto's PPP will now give their sympathy vote to her party. This will also be in protest against the totalitarian and tyrannical regime of President Musharraf since he was a sworn enemy of the PPP (or for that matter, any party opposed to his government).
Emotions are running high in Pakistan as was evident during Mr. Zardari's press conference today where slogans in favor of her and against the government were raised. One of the slogans that stood out was "Kitnay Bhutto maro gay, har ghar say Bhutto niklay gaa, "(How many Bhuttos will you kill? a Bhutto will emerge from every house) pointing towards the deaths of Zulfiqar, Shahnawaz, Murtaza and now Benazir Bhutto.
Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By rgart, December 30, 2007 at 07:17The forces that killed Akbar Bugti in Balochistan were able to control the situation there by sending the army that quashed all dissent. In all probability, the same forces killed Bhutto thinking that they would control the situation here again by employing the same measures that they did in Balochistan. The only beneficiary of Bhutto's assassination is the present regime in Pakistan since they have eliminated the single largest threat to their political future. Secondly, pinning the blame on the tribal pashtuns was a strategy devised by the government to vent all public anger towards the pashtuns who have been fighting the military in the tribal areas. Thirdly, the history of terrorist organizations in the region shows that they always own up to their attacks. In this instance, they denied it from the moment go.
In my opinion, Pakistan is in dire need of a socio-economic revolution to lift it from the abyss that is currently sinking in. The only person, I feel, who can pull Pakistan out of this mess is Imran Khan. Unfortunately, his party isn't in a strong position because the Establishment has left no stone unturned in creating hurdles for his party. This is so because the prospect of his party coming to power threatens the livelihoods of all corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and feudals who currently rule the country.
Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By luyen, December 30, 2007 at 02:12Truly a sad sad day for the courageous and the hopeful - when people like Benazir Bhutto, people who put their lives at risk, and encourage others to stand up for their human rights, are murdered, everyone loses, including the people who do the killing.
Especially in volatile Pakistan, for a woman to have been the voice of so many, is like a miracle... -i hope all of those who praised her, will find their voice and courage like she did, for the sake of Pakistan and all of us.
Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By Heather Wallace, December 29, 2007 at 12:45It's taken me a couple days to get over the shock of Benazir's death. Just three weeks ago, I was e-mailing her press office, trying to get an interview. People said I should try to get one before she was gone, and I suppose it was easy to see this coming.
Benazir never should have been standing through the sun roof. It was so stupid. Of course, men should never shoot at other human beings either, so no matter what, I just can't lay final blame on her.
Heather
Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By Salahuddin Ghaznavi, December 29, 2007 at 14:20Heather,
Thanks for your comments.
I believe the government and Benazir are equally responsible for her murder. A lot of people have complained to me that we (the anti-Musharraf group) blame Musharraf for whatever wrong that is committed in Pakistan. The fact, in my opinion, is that if Musharraf was so concerned about the public's saftely that he sent the MQM on May 12th, 2007, to make sure the Chief Justice could not hold his rally as per plan in Karachi and, on a seperate occasion, ban Imran Khan from entering Karachi for a month because Musharraf thought that would be a security hazard, why did he not ban Benazir Bhutto's rallies? Fact of the matter is, that banning Iftikhar Chaudhry and Imran Khan from carrying out rallies was all politically motivated. The case with the PPP was different because Benazir came to Pakistan under a deal brokered between Musharraf and the PPP to begin with and she was, in all probability, going to be elected the next Prime Minister. Had Musharraf maintained his stance in an unbiased fashion, this catastrophe could have been avoided.
Secondly, as far as Benazir herself is concerned, she knew her life was in danger. She had received several death threats and in such a situation, it is but natural, that one would take precautionary steps to protect oneself. Standing through the sunroof window defeats the purpose of travelling in a bullet-proof vehicle.
Kind regards,
Salahuddin Ghaznavi
Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By fahdaliraza@gma..., December 28, 2007 at 15:18Life in Karachi is at a standstill :(
Can't go to work, can't go shopping, even my wife is stuck all the way on the other side of town. The terror eventually becomes a way of life. Its more sad than terrible when the citizens of a country actually get so used to geocide that a suicide bombing with multiple casualties becomes news on page 3 or 4.
Anyways, unless I move to Canada or something, this is how things will stay. Take care and enjoy the freedoms of the western world, those of you outside Pakistan.
Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By crypticprince, December 28, 2007 at 13:43I cant believe Mohtarma is gone. The sadness of her passing added to the heartbreak of her family, the anguish of her Party workers and friends is now giving way to fear for the Solidarity of Pakistan. Analysts have rightly called this the biggest crisis in the History of this young Nation. its hard to believe that we woke up to a world without a Bhutto at the Helm of PPP. If Histroy has taught us anything, it is that our Leaders meet tragic ends. BB was a Gem. Human failings and bad decisions aside, she was the Bravest person in our Political landscape, she believed in the power of people, and fealt unvincible riding the waves to victory. Her supporters are extraordinary and the genuine love and admiration that they have for her deserves respect, i pray that in this crisis their hearts find solace. They have lost a friend, a sister, a leader.
This article, was a very informative and well written piece of work. Well done Mr Ghaznavi.
Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By Brandy Gibb, August 19, 2008 at 06:08An intriguing article that is food for thought, a good deal of thought. There is so much to say on this topic. The perspectives of discussion are vast: feminist, philosophical, cultural/religious, geopolitical . . .
Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By Hassan Mahbub, December 30, 2007 at 09:19All Pakistanis at home and abroad are very worried about the future of Pakistan. I myself am more worried about Pakistan's future than her death.
Re: Bhutto's Legacy Is Pakistan's Crisis
By Sunny L, December 28, 2007 at 12:07As someone of Indian decent it's a sad day. Benazir Bhutto was the one who represented peace especially between the borders of India and Pakistan in the eyes of India she was our stability. We as Indians know first hand and how the pakistani people feel we have had brutal assassinations even tho the circumstance maybe different. I just hope and pray for stability around the world over this senseless tragedy.