Benazir’s Legacy

By Suchismita Pahi 5 February 2008 73 views No Comment

“I am what terrorists most fear, a female political leader fighting to bring modernity to Pakistan”- Benazir Bhutto, Parade Mag. Dec. 2007

Before becoming martyred in her third bid for Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto publicly spoke of the danger that she was in and the threat that she was to the extremist elements throughout the Muslim world, particularly in Pakistan. Despite her knowledge, she moved forward with her decision to reenter politics in Pakistan and put her life at risk. Although she was unable to complete her bid, she left an indelible mark upon Pakistani politics.

Benazir Bhutto was first sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan in December of 1988, at the young age of 35. Her reign was heralded as a time of progress for Pakistan- power in the name of democracy, economic stability, and women’s rights. The first ever woman Prime Minister of a Muslim majority nation, Bhutto reflected the wishes of the Pakistani people for change from a developing country to an industrial nation.

Although her two terms in office were riddled with corruption charges and other accusations, her intent for the expansion of Pakistan in the economic, educational, and civil rights areas cannot be denied.

The beautiful, intelligent, outspoken Bhutto was a product of her family upbringing and her education in the West. Her experiences in America and the United Kingdom translated into a very intimate knowledge of the inner workings of democracies.Her journey from being a privileged daughter to leader of Pakistan to exiled countrywoman began with her birth in 1953 and ended with her assassination on December 27, 2007. As the daughter of a privileged progressive family, Bhutto attended English primary and secondary schools, and matriculated in 1969 to Radcliffe College at Harvard University to earn her Bachelor of Arts cum laude in Comparative Government. In 1973, she furthered her education at Oxford in the United Kingdom studying Philosophy, Politics, Economics, International Law, and Diplomacy.

She often spoke of how the trials of Nixon and the protests against the Vietnam War showed her how much power the people in a Democracy ought to have. To her the people in Pakistan had not realized the power that was in their hands. The power to change could only be initiated by a leader, but must be understood and taken up by the people. During her studies in Oxford University, her father was highly active in politics in Pakistan. He was also a progressive leader. He formed the Pakistan People’s Party and assigned his wife and daughter as co-chairs. A Western educated politician and an agent of change, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto faced much criticism and many charges of corruption from the fundamentalist groups of Pakistan. He was the President of Pakistan from 1971-1973, and the Prime Minister from 1973-1977.

General Muhammad Zia-Ul-Haq arrested Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1977 on charges of conspiracy to assassinate a leader of the opposition party. Bhutto returned to Pakistan in order to support her family. After a heavily contested trial, her father was executed in 1979. Pakistan became a military dictatorship under General Zia, and Benazir Bhutto took over leadership of the PPP. By 1984, Bhutto was campaigning heavily for the position of Prime Minister.

Four years of campaigning established Benazir Bhutto as a champion of human rights, with a political platform that focused on gender equality and alleviation of poverty throughout Pakistan. During her first term from 1988-1990 she made several legislative initiatives to bring about nationalistic reform and modernization. Her efforts to empower women and remove some of the more oppressive laws were blocked by the strong conservative opposition in the government.

In 1990, Benazir was dismissed from her seat as Prime Minister on corruption charges. Nawaz Sharif, who was a former military man, replaced her. Bhutto returned for a second term as Prime Minister in 1993 after campaigning on anti corruption reform initiatives. In 1996, Benazir was once again dismissed, this time by the President Farooq Leghori. After this dismissal, Bhutto went into self-imposed exile in Dubai with her husband and three children. Although in exile, her politicking did not stop. As the leader of the PPP she retained a large number of supporters in Pakistan.

Until 2007, Bhutto toured many countries and spoke upon the state of Islam and Democracies. She also wrote a number of books. Her continued political activism resulted in her announcement in 2007 of her intent to return to Pakistan for the 2008 elections and run for Prime Minister.

The fundamentalists of Pakistan dreaded her return to Pakistan. The military dictatorship run by Musharaff was threatened by Bhutto’s continued call for a full democracy. She called for Musharaff to face the Supreme Court because of his military standing while he was holding office. Bhutto and Sharif both returned to Pakistan in November of 2007, and campaigned heavily for elections to be held. Musharaff extended a cold welcome to both politicians.

Benazir Bhutto was placed under house arrest; the target of at least three terrorists attacks. She wrote an open letter to the government of Pakistan claiming that the head of the intelligence agency, among other people in the government, was behind the lax security detail. Even with the attacks and the hostile situation with the government, Benazir Bhutto made appearances and spoke to her supporters. The United States would have gained an irreplaceable ally with the courage and strength to move Pakistan into the modern world.

However before elections could be held, Benazir Bhutto was shot and killed during a rally on December 27 2007. Pakistan descended into chaos and is at a tentative peace as of January 2007. Despite her death, Benazir Bhutto’s goals remain the beacon of light for Pakistan. Her strength and courage gave her a vision for an independent Pakistan. Her desire for her Pakistan to move away from instability, to prove her people with a better life and take on the fundamentalists ultimately led to her demise.

Anticipating her own death, Bhutto willed her son to become head of the PPP. Perhaps he will be the leader that takes Pakistan beyond fundamentalism, beyond death, to fulfill the potential it has to become a fully industrialized democratic nation.