Benazir Bhutto

A former Prime Minister of Pakistan.  She was assassinated on December 27, 2007.

She was born to a prominent political family in Karachi, Pakistan in 1953.  After studying abroad, she returned to Pakistan where her father was Prime Minister, but then days later he was arrested and the military seized power.  Bhutto was arrested herself and detained for three years before she was allowed to leave and move to London.  When she returned to Pakistan in 1986 she was elected co-chairwoman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).  She became Prime Minister during the free elections of 1988, then the first woman to be elected as a Prime Minister in an Islamic country.

She was dismissed from office in 1990 by then-President Ishaq Khan over charges of corruption and hording public wealth.  She was reelected in 1993.  She was dismissed again from office in 1996 by then-President Leghari alleging that she mismanaged funds.  She has consistently denied any allegations against her.  She ran for office again in 1997, but the military took over the election.  Bhutto and her family were forced to live in exile again where they remained for 10 years.

Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October 2007 where she prepared to lead her party in the next election.  While at a rally in Rawalpindi in December of 2007, she was assassinated.  In accordance with her wishes, the PPP appointed her son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and widower, Asif Ali Zardari, to lead the party.

For more information, please see:

Impunity Watch - Update: Bhutto's Son Named as Successor - 30 December 2007

BBC News - Obituary: Benazir Bhutto - 27 December 2007

Impunity Watch - BRIEF: BENAZIR BHUTTO IS ASSASSINATED - 27 December 2007

Academy of Achievement - Benazir Bhutto Biography - 21 October 2007

CNN - Newsmaker: Benazir Bhutto - 7 September 2007

BenazirBhutto.com - Profile