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Who is Benazir Bhutto

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Benazir Bhutto - First Woman Prime Minister of a Modern Muslim Nation

When Benazir Bhutto was first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan at 35, she became the youngest chief executive in the world and the first woman elected ruler of a Muslim country in modern history. She served two non-consecutive terms, but later was convicted in absentia of corruption charges. In October 2007, she ended eight years in exile and returned to Pakistan to run for office. She was assassinated two months later.

Daughter of the East: Bhutto's Updated Autobiography

An Updated version of her autobiography, Daughter of Destiny

An updated version of "Daughter of Destiny," which was originally published in 1989, was planned for 2008 release before Benazir Bhutto was assassinated.

The updated autobiography, titled "Daugther of the East," is described this way by Amazon:

Beautiful, charismatic, and the first and only woman to lead a post-colonial Muslim state, Benazir Bhutto achieved international renown in her native Pakistan until charges of corruption forced her into exile in the late 1990s. From her upbringing in one of Pakistan's richest families to her subsequent politicization and her arrest following her father's execution, Bhutto's autobiography chronicles a life of strength, dedication, and courage in the face of adversity. This updated volume addresses her personal and political activities over the past two decades and how her country has changed since being thrust into international limelight following 9/11. Intriguing and impassioned, this is the life story of one of the most prominent female politicians of the 20th century.
Daughter of the East: An Autobiography

Daughter of the East: An Autobiography

by: Benazir Bhutto

Amazon Price: $8.94 (as of 05/30/2012)Buy Now

President Bush's Statement on Bhutto's Assassination

The White House released the following press release after hearings news of Benazir Bhutto's assassination:

"Laura and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Benazir Bhutto, to her friends, to her supporters. We send our condolences to the families of the others who were killed in today's violence. And we send our condolences to all the people of Pakistan on this tragic occasion.

The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy. Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice. Mrs. Bhutto served her nation twice as Prime Minister and she knew that her return to Pakistan earlier this year put her life at risk. Yet she refused to allow assassins to dictate the course of her country.

We stand with the people of Pakistan in their struggle against the forces of terror and extremism. We urge them to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life."

More Books About Benazir Bhutto

Read more about Pakistan's first woman prime minister

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Benazir Bhutto Timeline

Highlights from the Pakistan leader's life

Jun 1953 - born in Karachi
1969 - admitted to Harvard University at age 16
1971 - Benazir's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, elected president of Pakistan
1973- graduated from Harvard with a degree in political science
1973 - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto elected Prime Minister
1974 - attended Oxford University
Jun 1977 - returned to Pakistan two weeks before General Zia-ul-Haq staged a coup against her father, PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and imprisoned the former prime minister on charges of murder; Benazir Bhutto arrested
Apr 1979 - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto hanged
1984 - Benazir released from prison and goes into exile in England
Apr 1986 - returned to Pakistan and welcomed by a million supporters at Lahore airport
Jul 1987 - married Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi
Aug 1988 - General Zia killed in an air crash
Dec 1988 - Bhutto sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan
Aug 1990 - dismissed as PM by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and accused her of incompetence and corruption
Oct 1993 - re-elected prime minister
Nov 1996 - President Pakistan Farooq Leghari dimissed Bhutto as PM and dissolved the National Assembly
1999 - went into exile in the UK and Dubai
1999 - convicted in absentia of corruption charges after failing to appear in court; the ruling was later overturned
Oct 2007 - granted amnesty against corruption charges and returned to Pakistan
Dec 2007 - assassinated near Rawalpindi, Pakistan

How Will History Remember Benazir Bhutto?

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"You can imprison a man, but not an idea. You can exile a man, but not an idea. You can kill a man, but not an idea." - Benazir Bhutto

Remembering Benazir Bhutto

Links to Benazir Bhutto obituaries

BBC - Obituary: Benazir Bhutto
BBC remembers the Pakistani leader and her family.
Reuters - Benazir Bhutto obituary
Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, slain in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi.
New York Times - Benazir Bhutto Obituary
Benazir Bhutto, 54, Lived in Eye of Pakistan Storm
MSN News UK - Obituary: Benazir Bhutto
Obituary of the former Pakistan prime minister.
Telegraph.co.uk - Obituary: Benazir Bhutto
UK newspaper pays tribute to the former PM who brought democracy to Pakistan after 11 years of military rule.
The Times of India - Bhutto: A champion of democracy and moderate face of Islam
Indian newspaper remembers Bhutto
TIME - Benazir Bhutto (1953 - 2007)
TIME Magazine reflects on the life of the former PM and opposition leader
CTV.ca - Bhutto to be remembered for strength, controversy
Benazir Bhutto followed in her father's footsteps in life and in death, first as a political leader and promoter of democracy and, ultimately, as the victim of the enemies within her own country.

Not the First Woman Leader to Be Assassinated

Benazir Bhutto is not the first female world leader to be assassinated. The former PM joins India's Indira Gandhi and Rwanda's Agathe Uwilingiyimana on the short list of women prime ministers who have been killed during or after serving their country as head of state.

More Female Presidents and Prime Ministers

Many countries have elected female leaders

Benazir Bhutto owns the distinction of being the first woman elected prime minister in Pakistan, but Sri Lanka was actually the first country in the world to elect a female prime minister. How many other countries can you name that have elected women leaders? There are more than 50. Can't come up with them all? Check out the link below to learn more.
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Benazir Bhutto Videos

Frost over the World - Benazir Bhutto - 02 Nov 07
by AlJazeeraEnglish | video info

1,317 ratings | 678,192 views
automatically generated by YouTube

Benazir Bhutto Links

Bhutto Memorial Gifts on eBay

News of Bhutto's assassination has prompted a number of eBay sellers to offer memorial gifts.
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Archived Poll

Before Bhutto Returned to Pakistan, we asked what people thought of her

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Bhutto Shirts on CafePress

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Feedback on Benazir Bhutto

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  • TheLifestyleChanger Feb 29, 2012 @ 5:02 am | delete
    An amazing woman with a tragic end.
  • cmoneyspinner Feb 7, 2012 @ 6:40 pm | delete
    Interesting comments. Some PRO. Some CON. She didn't need to be gunned down like that. If they didn't want here there they could have just run her out of the country. ... AGAIN.
  • bayutuae Mar 10, 2011 @ 12:13 am | delete
    Nice lens on the life of Benazir Bhutto and no doubt she was a great leader and daughter of the East. Her reforms has resulted many sectors of Pakistan to grow especially Media, Technology and Pakistan real estate industry.
  • JenOfChicago May 19, 2009 @ 12:30 pm | delete
    Excellent tribute.
  • tandemonimom Apr 1, 2009 @ 1:11 am | delete
    Great lens! Please join the new Squidoo group Rulers and Royalty.
  • nooranwer Nov 27, 2008 @ 2:05 am | delete
    I am from Pakistan...........I don't like her Party but I like Benazir Bhutto..........Think what life has given her.........A dad, who get murdered........2 brothers...their murder mystery is still unsolved...........A mother, who doesn't know as if her daughter is alive or not......!
    She was a broken but a successful lady.........Nobody saw her devotion, her love for the Country when she was arrived to Pakistan.........Is there any politician in Pakistan who can move around the market of Peshwar (alone)...
    She was the one.........!
  • aliandzain Sep 8, 2008 @ 5:14 am | delete
    Very nice tribute.
  • raja amir Jul 16, 2008 @ 7:06 am | delete
    Benazir Bhutto was a great leader, she has serverd Pakistan bravely, faithfully. She was really great.
  • daoine May 21, 2008 @ 5:54 pm | delete
    Welcome to the Phenomenal Women group :)
  • spirituality May 19, 2008 @ 1:28 am | delete
    Great tribute.
  • MiLan Jan 1, 2008 @ 10:06 pm | delete
    Corruption charge is understandable for once not for twice. Its the matter of imagine the level of done corruption by her that she was toppled (Twice) even if being the highest political power i.e. Prime Minister.
  • KarenKay Dec 27, 2007 @ 11:18 am | delete
    I pray her death was not in vain...That we can honor her memory by continuing her spirit and efforts for positive change
  • tplus Dec 27, 2007 @ 8:24 am | delete
    It's sad that we've lost an important woman of power to a coward who would blow himself up in a crowd of people. :(
  • Clairwil Dec 8, 2007 @ 2:53 pm | delete
    Thanks for joining the 'Women of Note' group.

    Interesting lens *****.
  • Pakistan Weblog Dec 3, 2007 @ 11:32 am | delete
    She is proven corrupt person along with her party. What she has done for Pakistan? Nothing.
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