Remembering Benazir Bhutto: beacon of strength, leadership

ISLAMABAD: Seventeen years after her death, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto continues to live in our hearts and minds as a symbol of courage and leadership.

Her death anniversary is being observed today, and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has arranged functions to commemorate her struggles and leadership.  The main event will be held at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, where extensive arrangements have been made to honour her memory.

A large public gathering is scheduled at the venue, featuring a grand stage prepared for the top PPP leadership.

The site is adorned with party flags and posters of Benazir Bhutto and her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the PPP’s founder.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former President Asif Ali Zardari, and other central and provincial leaders, including Asifa Bhutto Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, and Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi, have reached Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to address the event.

To ensure security, thousands of police personnel have been deployed, and stringent measures, including walk-through gates and metal detectors, are in place for entry to the mausoleum of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

Born on June 21, 1953, at Pinto Hospital in Karachi, Benazir Bhutto hailed from a prominent political family in Sindh. She was the eldest child of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Begum Nusrat Bhutto, an Iranian-Kurdish woman. Benazir’s charismatic personality and relentless determination made her a trailblazer in Pakistani politics and a role model for women worldwide.

On December 27, 2007, Benazir was in Rawalpindi to address a massive public gathering at Liaquat Bagh. While leaving the venue, she stood through the sunroof of her vehicle to greet an enthusiastic crowd of supporters.

It was then that a terrorist struck, shooting her in the head and triggering an explosion. She was rushed to the hospital, where her death was later confirmed, leaving a nation in mourning.

Benazir Bhutto’s achievements remain unparalleled. She was the first Asian woman to serve as president of the Oxford Union and later became the youngest and first woman prime minister of Pakistan and the Muslim world.

Her journey, however, was fraught with trials. After General Zia-ul-Haq toppled Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government, she and her family faced severe persecution. Benazir endured six years of imprisonment and solitary confinement, losing her father and two brothers during this harrowing period.

Even under such circumstances, Benazir fought tirelessly for the rights of the downtrodden and remained committed to her father’s vision of a democratic Pakistan.

Reflecting on her life, Benazir once said, “I have led an unusual life. I have buried a father killed at the age of 50 and two brothers killed in the prime of their lives. I raised my children as a single mother, when my husband was arrested and held for eight years without a conviction, he was a hostage to my political career.”

Benazir Bhutto’s legacy as a leader, daughter, wife, and mother continues to inspire millions. She demonstrated that political struggle, resilience, and reconciliation could triumph over dictatorship and restore democracy. Her life remains a beacon of hope and strength, particularly for women and the underprivileged in Pakistan.

December 27 declared public holiday in Sindh