Benazir Bhutto: A Life to be Remembered

Life and death is something nobody can control. We can never predict when something will happen that is so disastrous that it will affect thousands of lives. This happened with the death of a great politician, Benazir Bhutto. Benazir Bhutto was born on June 21,1953 in Karachi, Pakistan where she got her early education. After getting her A-levels from Karachi Grammar school, she went to United States for further education. Benazir attended Radcliffe College from 1969 to 1973 and then later went on to Harvard University to get Bachelors degree in Comparative Government. Between 1973 and 1977, she was educated in Economics, Politics and Philosophy at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

In 1984, Benazir Bhutto accepted the leadership of the political party known as the Pakistan People’s Party. In 1987, she married Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi. The marriage proved to be very good for her since she became Prime Minister of Pakistan on December 16, 1988. Benazir was not only the youngest Prime Minister, but also the first woman to be elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan. Her government was dismissed under charges of corruption in 1990. However, she again ran for Prime Minister and was re-elected in 1993, only be once again charged with corruption.

After facing many corruption charges and living in exile for almost eight years, Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan on October 18, 2007 to run in the elections that were to be held in 2008. Her trip to Karachi proved to be far more dangerous than expected and there was a suicide attempt on her life shortly after she landed at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. Benazir was not personally harmed in this attack, but at least 450 people were injured and around 136 were killed.

Benazir did not prove to be as lucky in the suicide attack that took place outside the Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007. Benazir Bhutto had just left the park after attending an election rally when two motorcyclists suddenly appeared in front of her car. Both motorcyclists opened fire on the car and then detonated a bomb on the car. Benazir Bhutto was immediately taken to the General Hospital, Rawalpindi. However, she died on her way to the hospital.

Benazir Bhutto was a great leader and a great asset for her country. She always had the best interests of her country and her people in her heart. May her soul rest in peace and may God give her family courage to face these sad times.