Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other national leaders on Saturday paid tribute to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on the 18th anniversary of her assassination, remembering her as a symbol of democratic struggle and political courage. Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority country, was killed in a gun and bomb attack after a public rally in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007.
Born on June 21, 1953, Bhutto entered politics after the execution of her father, former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, under the military rule of General Zia-ul-Haq. She was first elected prime minister in 1988 at the age of 35. Her two terms in office, from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996, ended in dismissals amid allegations of corruption, which she consistently described as politically motivated.
Despite a long history of political rivalry with the Sharif family, Bhutto signed the Charter of Democracy with Nawaz Sharif in 2006, committing both sides to civilian supremacy and democratic continuity. She was assassinated just a year later.
In his message, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Bhutto’s efforts to promote women’s empowerment, minority rights and democratic values, calling her sacrifices a lasting inspiration for the nation. President Asif Ali Zardari said she believed in an inclusive Pakistan where citizens of all faiths enjoyed equal rights and dignity.
Bhutto’s political legacy lives on through her children. Her son, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, now leads the Pakistan Peoples Party, while her daughter, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, said her mother’s courage continues to inspire resistance against injustice in Pakistan.
