Today, the 70th birth anniversary of Benazir Bhutto, who achieved the honor of being the first female Prime Minister in Pakistan and Asia’s Islamic world, is being celebrated in Pakistan and around the world.
After ending her self-imposed exile of eight years in London and returning to Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a suicide attack on December 27, 2007, during a rally held in Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, a few months later.
At the age of only 35, Benazir Bhutto symbolized the struggle for democracy as she held the position of Prime Minister. After the execution of her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, she faced extremely challenging circumstances and led the party through turbulent times, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination. She not only endured imprisonment but also suffered forced exile.
She became the Prime Minister for the first time from 1988 to 1990, and her government was dismissed in August 1990. She then served as Prime Minister for a second time from 1993 to 1996. In 1996, her government was once again overthrown.
In 1984, Benazir Bhutto was granted permission to leave the country for medical treatment. She had been under continuous surveillance since 1981. In 1985, when she attempted to return to Pakistan after the death of her brother, Shah Nawaz, she was once again put under house arrest. After the end of the Martial Law regime, she returned to the country in 1986 and received a historic welcome.
In a momentous decision, on October 18, 2007, after nine years of self-imposed exile, Benazir Bhutto decided to return to her homeland. She was welcomed with great enthusiasm at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. However, a suicide attack targeted her convoy near the Karsaz area, leaving her safe in the truck but claiming the lives of numerous party workers.
Despite the threat to his life, Benazir continued his political activities. On December 27, 2007 in Liaquat Bagh, this shining star of Pakistani politics went down forever.
Former President Asif Ali Zardari, paying tribute on her birthday, stated that the Pakistan People’s Party remains steadfast in upholding Benazir Bhutto’s philosophy. He vowed to fulfill her dreams and said that her politics aimed to eliminate the darkness of ignorance from the country.