Benazir Bhutto's father, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was removed from office following a military coup in 1977 led by the then chief of army General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, who imposed martial law but promised to hold elections within three months. Nevertheless, instead of fulfilling the promise of holding general elections, General Zia charged Mr. Bhutto with conspiring to murder the father of dissident politician Ahmed Raza Kasuri. Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death by the martial law court.
Despite the accusation being "widely doubted by the public",[12] and many clemency appeals from foreign leaders, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged on 4 April 1979. Appeals for clemency were dismissed by acting President General Zia. Benazir Bhutto and her mother were held in a "police camp" until the end of May, after the execution.[13]
In 1985, Benazir Bhutto's brother Shahnawaz was killed under suspicious circumstances in France. Later in 1996 the killing of her other brother, Mir Murtaza, contributed to destabilizing her second term as Prime Minister.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Education and personal life
Benazir Bhutto was born in Karachi, Dominion of Pakistan on 21 June 1953 to Begum Nusrat Ispahani and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of a prominent Muslim family of Larkana. She attended the Lady Jennings Nursery School and Convent of Jesus and Mary in Karachi.[5] After two years of schooling at the Rawalpindi Presentation Convent, she was sent to the Jesus and Mary Convent at Murree. She passed her O-level examinations at the age of 15.[6] She then went on to complete her A-Levels at the Karachi Grammar School.
After completing her early education in Pakistan, she pursued her higher education in the United States. From 1969 to 1973 she attended Radcliffe College at Harvard University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with cum laude honors comparative government.[7] She was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa.[6] Bhutto would later call her time at Harvard "four of the happiest years of my life" and said it formed "the very basis of her belief in democracy". Later in 1995 as Prime Minister, she would arrange a gift from the Pakistani government to Harvard Law School.[8] On June 2006, she received an Honorary LL.D degree from the University of Toronto.[9]
The next phase of her education took place in the United Kingdom. Between 1973 and 1977 Bhutto studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, during which time she completed additional courses in International Law and Diplomacy.[10] After LMH she attend St Catherine's College, Oxford[11] and in December 1976 she was elected president of the Oxford Union, becoming the first Asian woman to head the prestigious debating society.[6]
On 18 December 1987, she married Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi. The couple had three children: Bilawal, Bakhtwar and Aseefa.
After completing her early education in Pakistan, she pursued her higher education in the United States. From 1969 to 1973 she attended Radcliffe College at Harvard University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with cum laude honors comparative government.[7] She was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa.[6] Bhutto would later call her time at Harvard "four of the happiest years of my life" and said it formed "the very basis of her belief in democracy". Later in 1995 as Prime Minister, she would arrange a gift from the Pakistani government to Harvard Law School.[8] On June 2006, she received an Honorary LL.D degree from the University of Toronto.[9]
The next phase of her education took place in the United Kingdom. Between 1973 and 1977 Bhutto studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, during which time she completed additional courses in International Law and Diplomacy.[10] After LMH she attend St Catherine's College, Oxford[11] and in December 1976 she was elected president of the Oxford Union, becoming the first Asian woman to head the prestigious debating society.[6]
On 18 December 1987, she married Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi. The couple had three children: Bilawal, Bakhtwar and Aseefa.
Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto
Political activist with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).1977-84 Repeatedly imprisoned and kept under house arrest by the Pakistani government; political exile in London, England.
1988 She became Prime Minister 1990 Her government was illegally dismissed in August.
1993 She again came to power after her party won a majority in elections held in October...
1984 Returned to Pakistan in April.
1986 Pakistan Peoples Party, Karachi, Pakistan co-chair. 1988 After elections held November, invited to form .........
Biography
Speeches
Articles/Interviews
Kashmir Policy
Letters
Audios/Videos
Poems
Photographs
Political activist with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).1977-84 Repeatedly imprisoned and kept under house arrest by the Pakistani government; political exile in London, England.
1988 She became Prime Minister 1990 Her government was illegally dismissed in August.
1993 She again came to power after her party won a majority in elections held in October...
1984 Returned to Pakistan in April.
1986 Pakistan Peoples Party, Karachi, Pakistan co-chair. 1988 After elections held November, invited to form .........
Biography
Speeches
Articles/Interviews
Kashmir Policy
Letters
Audios/Videos
Poems
Photographs
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