Benazir Bhutto Martyr for Democracy By: Mackenzie B.

Early Life Born on June 27, 1953, in Karachi, Pakistan Parents: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Begum Nusrat Ispahani Bhutto Led a very privileged childhood Gifted with enabling parents Her father was a great advocate for democracy and human rights

Born on June 27, 1953, in Karachi, Pakistan

Parents: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Begum Nusrat Ispahani Bhutto

Led a very privileged childhood

Gifted with enabling parents

Her father was a great advocate for democracy and human rights

Education Entered Harvard at 16 Earned B.A. at Radcliffe in 1973 Studied at Oxford after Harvard Awarded a second degree in 1977 First Asian woman president of the Union

Entered Harvard at 16

Earned B.A. at Radcliffe in 1973

Studied at Oxford after Harvard

Awarded a second degree in 1977

First Asian woman president of the Union

A Profound Influence Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto , served as president and prime minister of Pakistan from 1971 to 1977 Believed in equality of men and women Imprisoned by military days after her arrival home Assassinated on the morning of April 4, 1979

Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto , served as president and prime minister of Pakistan from 1971 to 1977

Believed in equality of men and women

Imprisoned by military days after her arrival home

Assassinated on the morning of April 4, 1979

Path to Prime Minister After her father’s death, Ms. Bhutto worked towards her mother becoming the prime minister Her mother became very ill with lung cancer, and was also developing Alzheimer’s With her mother being ill, Benazir found the whole party (Pakistan People’s Party) was about to collapse, so she stepped in It finally struck her that “looking after” her mother meant that she would become the prime minister

After her father’s death, Ms. Bhutto worked towards her mother becoming the prime minister

Her mother became very ill with lung cancer, and was also developing Alzheimer’s

With her mother being ill, Benazir found the whole party (Pakistan People’s Party) was about to collapse, so she stepped in

It finally struck her that “looking after” her mother meant that she would become the prime minister

A Dream Realized In 1988, at the young age of 35, Ms. Bhutto became prime minister of Pakistan She was the first woman to hold such an office in an Islamic state That dream, however, was short-lived; she was illegally ousted in 1990, having served only half of her full term In 1993 she returned and won a second election, but again was illegally dismissed in 1996

In 1988, at the young age of 35, Ms. Bhutto became prime minister of Pakistan

She was the first woman to hold such an office in an Islamic state

That dream, however, was short-lived; she was illegally ousted in 1990, having served only half of her full term

In 1993 she returned and won a second election, but again was illegally dismissed in 1996

Exile Ms. Bhutto’s brother, Mir Musrtaza, leveled charges of corruption at her husband, Asif Ali Zardari Her husband was imprisoned She and her children lived in self-imposed exile for nine years They lived in London, New York, and Dubai, where she continued to advocate the restoration of democracy in Pakistan

Ms. Bhutto’s brother, Mir Musrtaza, leveled charges of corruption at her husband, Asif Ali Zardari

Her husband was imprisoned

She and her children lived in self-imposed exile for nine years

They lived in London, New York, and Dubai, where she continued to advocate the restoration of democracy in Pakistan

Return to Pakistan In 2007, amid death threats and the hostility of the government, she returned to her native Pakistan Benazir’s husband, Asif, and their two daughters remained in Dubai On October 18, 2007, Ms. Bhutto stepped off the plane and onto Pakistani soil, overcome with emotion Benazir’s husband’s requests for bulletproof vehicles had been denied, as well as many other provisions to keep her safe From the beginning of the caravan, a group of brave, unarmed young men in white T-shirts surrounded her truck and held hands, making a human shield to protect her with their bodies Mere hours after arriving in Karachi, a suicide bomber attacked her motorcade; she survived the first assassination attempt, but more than 100 bystanders were killed

In 2007, amid death threats and the hostility of the government, she returned to her native Pakistan

Benazir’s husband, Asif, and their two daughters remained in Dubai

On October 18, 2007, Ms. Bhutto stepped off the plane and onto Pakistani soil, overcome with emotion

Benazir’s husband’s requests for bulletproof vehicles had been denied, as well as many other provisions to keep her safe

From the beginning of the caravan, a group of brave, unarmed young men in white T-shirts surrounded her truck and held hands, making a human shield to protect her with their bodies

Mere hours after arriving in Karachi, a suicide bomber attacked her motorcade; she survived the first assassination attempt, but more than 100 bystanders were killed

Martyrdom National elections were scheduled for January of 2008, where Benazir was poised for victory where she would once again become prime minister Only a few weeks before the election, December 27, 2007, extremists struck again; after a campaign rally in Rawilpindi, a gunman fired at her car, shooting her in the neck She fell back into the vehicle and a bomb detonated almost immediately, killing the gunman himself and more than 20 bystanders Ms. Bhutto was rushed to the hospital, but soon succumbed to injuries suffered from the attack

National elections were scheduled for January of 2008, where Benazir was poised for victory where she would once again become prime minister

Only a few weeks before the election, December 27, 2007, extremists struck again; after a campaign rally in Rawilpindi, a gunman fired at her car, shooting her in the neck

She fell back into the vehicle and a bomb detonated almost immediately, killing the gunman himself and more than 20 bystanders

Ms. Bhutto was rushed to the hospital, but soon succumbed to injuries suffered from the attack

Conclusion During her time as prime minister, Ms. Bhutto accomplished many things: Brought electricity to the countryside Built schools all over the country Made hunger, housing, and health care her top priorities She truly was an inspiration. Her death is a devastating loss to her country and cause, but her memory will live on, and she will be remembered as one of the most courageous and determined people of our time.

During her time as prime minister, Ms. Bhutto accomplished many things:

Brought electricity to the countryside

Built schools all over the country

Made hunger, housing, and health care her top priorities

She truly was an inspiration. Her death is a devastating loss to her country and cause, but her memory will live on, and she will be remembered as one of the most courageous and determined people of our time.