The woman behind the Bhuttos

Dawn.com Published October 24, 2011

Born on March 23, 1929, Nusrat had lived a life of comfort after marrying Mr Bhutto as his second wife in 1951. In this file photo, Begum Bhutto is seen along with their imperial majesties, the Shahanshah Arymehr and Shahbano of Iran, Prime Minister Zulifikar Ali Bhutto and President Fazal Illahi Chaudhry. ? Dawn File Photo

Nusrat Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at an event. Nusrat became closely involved in politics and organised the women's wing of the Pakistan People's Party. She showed real mettle when she confronted then military ruler Gen Ziaul Haq after his July 5, 1977 coup by leading the PPP and a campaign that forced the dictator to postpone for years an election he had promised to hold within 90 days, and remained dauntless, even when Mr Bhutto was executed in the Rawalpindi Central Jail in 1979 after a controversial conspir

The list of tragedies that Begum Bhutto suffered is long. Her younger son, Shahnawaz, died in mysterious circumstances at his flat in southern France in 1985. Despite the trails and tribulations, some joyous moments awaited her. Here a happy Benazir Bhutto waves at the crowd at the People's Stadium in Lyari at her wedding. Seen in the background is Begum Bhutto. ? Dawn File Photo

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Begum Nusrat Bhutto, who suffered the longest torment among Pakistani politicians but put up an epic fight against military dictatorship, died in a Dubai hospital on Sunday after a long illness. She was 82.

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Zulfikar Ahmed

Oct 24, 2011 07:50pm

end of a era! May Allah rest her soul in peace.... Ameen

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vinny

Oct 24, 2011 08:38pm

Everything ok but in what way she merits a national holiday for her demise? Not even Indian Presidents are honoured that way. Only PMs are eligible and mostly only when they die in their chairs. CMs of states come next. Why not a single line anywhere in your media deploring a productive day being declared a useless holiday?

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salisha baksh

Oct 24, 2011 09:28pm

so very sad for Pakistanis and politicians. the darkest years of pakistan during zia ul haq reign. her husband was disgracefully murdered by his detractors. we know bhutto was no saint. but to leave the world in the manner in which he did does not do Pakistanis proud.. whats the use to return begum Nusrat to Pakistan after being in exile for so many years and living a torturous life with her children being executed and murdered in gang style manner. may she rest in peace.

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Shakeel.Quddus

Oct 24, 2011 10:23pm

On the American scene, there are accounts of how Mrs. Nixon endured simply because she was the wife of the infamous former President Richard Nixon. He was the target of all the abuses the press and media and liberal elites thought he deserved. He took all the abuses and did come back but his wife endured and became the model of endurance. If only she knew what Begum Nusrat Bhutto endured. My heart goes for her.

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abid aziz

Oct 25, 2011 03:26am

I am so sorry for the death of this brave mother of our nation . May Allah bless her soul

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Mystic

Oct 25, 2011 04:26am

A courageous leader but an unfortunate mother who had to bear the pain of losing her three children besides losing her husband for the cause of democracy in Pakistan, a dream gone sour. May Allah SWT rest her soul in peace and grant her a higher place in Jannat-ul-Fidous.(Ameen)

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Vikas

Oct 25, 2011 09:25am

Awesome collection..... I can feel the pain just by going thru the snaps.

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I Ahmed

Oct 25, 2011 11:42am

@ Abid, sorry for the death but in no way she was the mother of the nation. Pakistan does not belong to any of the political leaders, their family members or their parties. Please don't raise these people to the level of Quaid-e-Azam & Allama Iqbal.

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Faisal abbas

Oct 25, 2011 01:03pm

May her soul rest in peace: she was really a great women!

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Raghib

Oct 25, 2011 02:45pm

May ALLAH give Pakistani nation the quality to recognise the true & sincere leader ship! which never comes from big family names or fuderal lords or generals. The sincere leadership comes from middle class or from the root not from the top and I am surprised how Nusrat Bhutto can be named mother of nation of Pakistan, the country which is based on the ideology of Islamic principles.

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Yasmin Mughal,

Oct 25, 2011 02:59pm

Great Women leader who had done great work for restoring democracy in Pakistan, and proved women participation in governance in male dominant society. Nusrat Bhuto was a COURAGEOUS mother too. May Allah SWT rest her soul in peace and grant her a higher place in Jannat-ul-Fidous.(Ameen)

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kabir shinwari

Oct 25, 2011 04:58pm

She was brave women on earth, who faced the death of all her children and husband for the sake of democracy. She never subdue before the brutal dictator ; Zia and fought till the end. Now it is the responsibility of leadership of PPP to uphold the traditions of the this brave women.

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