Boston Bureau

A father's words, “Benazir, never become bitter no matter what happens to me or you.”The news of the death of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan rocked the world in total shock and great sadness for her husband and three children. They had been exiled in London and Dubai for many years. The sorrow also extends to her supporters of the Peoples Party of Pakistan (PPP) and for the cause of democracy, which she and her father long championed in Pakistan. The military and religious leaders were powerful forces for a Muslim woman to challenge, even though the name “Bhutto” is revered in her country.

Her story resembles that of Joan of Arc, who became a martyr in the cause of freedom for her beloved France. Benazir, too, will become a martyr for the cause of freedom in her beloved Pakistan. She was burned at the stake by a suicide bomber on December 27, 2007. When she returned to her country in October, it was a risk. Pakistan was roiled in violence from terrorists, but Bhutto felt invincible and eschewed warnings about personal attacks. Bhutto had planned to challenge Pervez Musharraf and her former rival, Nawaz Sharif, in the January 8, 2008 elections. She had just given a political speech in Rawalpindi—a place where her father had been imprisoned—when the fatal blow happened.

Some Americans who knew Benazir wondered today how much her education both in Boston and London, and her long friendships in the West may have contributed to her death.  She was quoted about the attempt on her life just last month, "I have long claimed that the rise of extremism and militancy in Pakistan could not happen without support from elements within the current administration. My return to my country poses a threat to the forces of extremism that have thrived under a dictatorship...  I began to feel the net was being tightened around me when police security outside my home in Karachi was reduced, even as I was told that other assassination plots were in the offing."

At sixteen, Benazir entered Harvard University in Cambridge, where famed economist John Kenneth Galbraith acted as a surrogate father. She was first woman and first foreigner to become head of the Debating Union at OxfordBenazir Bhutto led a charmed life with her educated Iranian mother and liberated Pakistani father. Ali Bhutto’s firstborn was the apple of his eye. There would be two brothers and a sister to follow. The two brothers would be murdered and only the younger sister, Sanam, remains. Nusrat Bhutto, her 78-year-old mother, is suffering from a stroke and lives in Dubai.

At sixteen, Benazir entered Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where famed economist John Kenneth Galbraith acted as a surrogate father. Her mother filled her closet with traditional dresses - Shalwar Kamiz and the dupatta scarf. However, once her mother left, Benazir chose sweatshirts and jeans to wear with her dupatta. She was never alone on a date with a man during her years at Harvard.

From Harvard, she went to Oxford University in Great Britain. There, she was the first woman and the first foreigner to become head of the Oxford Union debating team. After graduating from Oxford, she wanted to return to Pakistan to help her father in politics. However, her father wanted her to stay one more year to study international law. Reluctantly, she agreed.

Not long after her return to Pakistan to assist her father, there was a coup d’etat, waged by General Zia to unseat Ali Bhutto and restore military rule for eleven years. Benazir’s father was put in jail and eventually it was alleged that he was deliberately murdered. However, during Benazir’s visits to her father in prison, his words of wisdom were, “Benazir, never become bitter no matter what happens to me or you.”

Benazir and mother imprisoned as well 

Her cell's temperature was 40 degrees at night & 120 degrees in the dayThen, Benazir and her mother were imprisoned. Benazir was in and out of jail for ten years: the Central Jail in Karachi; house arrest at the family farm in the Sindh Desert in Larkana; and a large prison structure in the desert. In doing research for a biography of Benazir Bhutto, this author visited all three locations. The rectangular jail had a concrete floor, a rusty spigot, and a hole for ablutions. She didn’t have a blanket, only a straw mat.

At night, the wind blew through the four barred windows at a temperature of 40 degrees. During the day, the temperature would reach 120 degrees. Her hair fell out in clumps and boils developed on her face. She was fed watery soup with a little pumpkin floating in it. One of the guards was sympathetic and brought her pieces of paper that he hid safely for her. She began writing her memoirs, called “Daughter of Destiny.”

Benazir Bhutto greets fellow Radcliffe alumna Anne Fadiman in front of a portrait of Bhutto's father in this 1989 photo.An arranged but happy marriage 

Upon her release when Zia was killed in an air crash, she agreed to an arranged marriage to Asif Zardari, a wealthy business man from the same province as her family.  It was a very happy marriage, and they had three children. When they married, Asif had to promise to serve his wife who was serving her country. A unique promise in a Muslim country.

Asif was put in jail for eight years for allegedly taking kick-backs for business deals he made with the West. Benazir proved this was not so in a court of law in both Switzerland and Canada. The Pakistani authorities offered to release her husband if she would promise never to re-enter politics. Of course, she would not make such a promise.

Her two terms as Prime Minister of Pakistan
 

Her two terms as prime minister have undergone intense scrutiny. She may not have been a superb administrator, but her building of grammar schools for young girls was a leap forward. Her desire to impart democracy to Pakistan was never in question. Those noble ideals were part of her mission in returning to Pakistan despite the obvious risks. Her ideas will never die, they will live on.

In future, it will be interesting to see if any of her children will carry the torch for democracy in honor of their mother and grandfather. Now is not the time, but the future may be more promising.