Benazir Bhutto’s 12th death anniversary is being observed today (Friday). On the same date in 2007, Pakistan’s charismatic leader and two time prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, was killed as she left a campaign rally near Islamabad.
The 54-year old Bhutto was campaigning to return to power, just two months after returning to Pakistan from exile.
Benazir was a first female Pakistani politician who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and then again from 1993 to 1996.
She was born on 21st June, 1953 in the city of lights, Karachi. She was the daughter of Pakistan’s renowned politician Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Begum Nusrat Ispahani, of Iranian Kurdish parentage.
She completed her early education in Pakistan and then for higher studies, she went to United States. She graduated from Harvard University with a BA in comparative government. Later, she completed a course in international law and diplomacy from Oxford University.
She got married Asif Ali Zardari on December 18, 1987, and the couple has three children; Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Aseefa.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will hold a jalsa in Liaquat Bagh today, where the former prime minister was assassinated.
PPP Chairman and Benazir’s son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari earlier said in his message to mark the 12th death anniversary of Benazir that the people of Pakistan would never forget their brave leader, who sacrificed everything for the country and for the rights of its downtrodden and barefoot masses.
“She led the followers of prime minister Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto into an untiring struggle against the brutal tyrant in shape of Zia. She suffered solitary confinement, imprisonments and forced exiles while fighting for restoration of democracy,” said Bilawal.
It is reported that more than 15,000 chairs have been placed at Liaquat Bagh.
Read: PPP all set to hold jalsa at Liaquat Bagh to observe Benazir’s death anniversary
Today, on her 12th death anniversary, the nation still mourns over her death and wishes her to be alive. Have a look.