Benazir Bhutto’s 17th death anniversary being observed today

Seventeen years have passed since the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s first female prime minister and a pioneering leader in the Muslim world. Known as the “Daughter of the East,” she left an indelible mark on the country’s political history and remains a symbol of resilience and democracy.

Born into the prominent Bhutto family, Benazir was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). She joined the party’s Central Executive Committee in 1977, under her father’s leadership, and soon began demonstrating her political acumen.

After Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s execution in 1979, Benazir emerged as the torchbearer of his political legacy. Her journey was not without immense challenges. In 1981, she was imprisoned in Sukkur Jail, where she endured harsh conditions while resisting military dictatorship.

Following her release in 1984, Benazir went into self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom. She returned to Pakistan in 1986, where she was greeted by an unprecedented crowd in Lahore, signaling her immense popularity among the masses.

In 1988, Benazir Bhutto shattered barriers by becoming the first female prime minister of a Muslim-majority country. Her tenure, however, faced hurdles, and her government was dismissed after just 20 months by then-President Ghulam Ishaq Khan.

Benazir returned to power in 1993 for a second term as prime minister, during which she worked on initiatives for women’s empowerment and economic reforms. Yet, political challenges and allegations led to her dismissal in 1996.

After years of political exile, Benazir made a dramatic return to Pakistan on October 18, 2007. Millions of supporters welcomed her, but tragedy struck the same day when a bomb attack on her convoy in Karachi claimed over 180 lives. She narrowly escaped the attack but remained undeterred in her mission.

Her life came to a tragic end on December 27, 2007, after addressing a rally at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh. A terrorist attack involving gunfire and a suicide bombing took her life, plunging the nation into grief. The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Benazir Bhutto’s courage, political vision, and commitment to democracy continue to inspire millions. Her legacy as a trailblazer in global politics and a symbol of hope for Pakistan remains unmatched. Even today, her supporters honor her memory and draw inspiration from her struggle for a better Pakistan.