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'Democracy can be fragile': New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern pays glowing tribute to the late Benazir Bhutto

'Democracy can be fragile': New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern pays glowing tribute to the late Benazir Bhutto

She shared fond memories of the former premier during a speech at Harvard University's commencement ceremony.
Updated 27 May, 2022

We love seeing women support women, so we loved seeing New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern paying homage to the late Benazir Bhutto, the first and only woman prime minister of Pakistan, in her speech at Harvard University's commencement ceremony.

On Thursday, New Zealand's premier took the stage at Harvard University to speak to graduates. While she appreciated some of her country people being a part of the ceremony as graduating students, she spoke more about her "connection" to the late Benazir.

"In June 1989, the prime minister of Pakistan stood on this spot and delivered the commencement address titled Democratic Nations Must Unite. She spoke about her journey, the importance of citizenry, representative government, human rights and democracy," began Ardern.

She also added her personal experience of meeting Benazir in Geneva in June 2007. Ardern described it as a conference that drew together "progressive parties from around the world", Benazir being one of them. "Seven months later, she was assassinated. Now there will be opinions and differing perspectives written about all of us as political leaders. Two things that history will not contest about Benazir Bhutto — she was the first Muslim female prime minister elected in an Islamic country when women in power was a rare thing. She was also the first to give birth in office," she said.

"The second and only other leader to have given birth in office, almost 30 years later, was me," said Ardern. She shared that her daughter, Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford, was born on on June 21, 2018, Benazir's birthday.

"The path she carved as a woman feels as relevant today as it was decades ago. And so too is the message she shared here in this place. She said partway through her speech in 1989 the following, 'We must realise that democracy can be fragile.' Now I read those words as I sat in my office in Wellington, New Zealand, a world away from Pakistan. And while the reasons that gave rise to her words then were vastly different, they still ring true."

Ardern appreciated what Benazir said 33 years ago and believed that indeed, "democracy is fragile".

Comments

Always Pokhtoon May 27, 2022 06:33pm
New Zealanders are lucky to have Jacinda Arden as their country's PM!
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Syed Hasni May 27, 2022 06:39pm
Benazir Bhutto is a symbol of how progressive Islam can be. For Muslims it is not a shock that Islam gives highest regards to woman and infact instruct Men that the door of heaven is beneath the mothers feet. It is very refreshing to see that seat of knowledge, Like Harvard resonates the same sentiments.
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Asma May 27, 2022 06:51pm
Please dont celebrate the Bhutto name. Let it be buried like the original bhutto
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Zarak May 27, 2022 06:55pm
Kudos to her, a real leader
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 27, 2022 07:10pm
Great move and excellent news. For sure democracy is fragile all over the world, especially in the U.S. after the unfortunate incidents of January 06, 2021, in Washington, D.C. perpetrated deliberately to overthrow the elected 46th U.S. President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr., by the so-called supporters, backers, fans, admirers, donors and voters of racist, bigot, liar, prejudiced, crooked, cruel, cunning, corrupt and criminal Donald Trump.
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Saniaa May 27, 2022 07:12pm
Too little, too late
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Iftikhar Ali May 27, 2022 07:17pm
Is ko bibi and zardari kee corruption batao toe yey sir pakar ley gee.
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Sayyar Khan May 27, 2022 07:30pm
Maybe. Zardari can give her some tips also.
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Tadka May 27, 2022 07:36pm
giving birth in office is not an achievement but part n parcel of job responsibilities which women undertake
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M. Saeed May 27, 2022 07:37pm
Democracy has been made more fragile and brittle by the U-turn master.
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Soniye tu auder te la May 27, 2022 07:37pm
She is the female version of Imran Khan. NZ economy is in shambles.
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Mahmood May 27, 2022 07:37pm
Too bad BB ended up marrying someone way beneath her league and paid the ultimate price for it.
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T-man May 27, 2022 07:42pm
Imran Khan can learn a thing or two from New Zealand Prime Minister. The first thing that comes to mind is compassion, respect for others and statesmanship to name a few.
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Khan May 27, 2022 07:43pm
BB was a wasted talent. She could have used her intelligence for good of ge country, unfortunately she was corrupt to the core .And then she married a thief and that was the end of her !
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Imran May 27, 2022 07:46pm
Thank her for introducing a corrupt husband, how crazy this world has become.
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Khaled May 27, 2022 07:54pm
She was a great lady.
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Abdullah May 27, 2022 07:59pm
Now jacinda will be on pti hit list too.You will soon see it on Haqeeqat TV
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Anti-Corruption May 27, 2022 08:04pm
Well said. Benazir’s only achievements were 1. First female PM of a Muslim country 2. First woman to give birth during her office as PM Jacinda should also have highlighted how she was convicted by swiss courts for corruption, her nepotism, and how her brother was murdered during her time in power.
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Taj Ahmad May 27, 2022 08:07pm
BNB was a great leader of Pakistan as well as Muslim world, RIP to her.
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Abbas Ali Qureshi May 27, 2022 08:15pm
She had never been a source of motivation for our women.
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Himanshu Pandey May 27, 2022 08:16pm
This is so heartwarming. Jacinda, you probably aren't exactly aware the impact you are creating in this world. In the world filled with divisive and megalomaniac leader, you are a breath of fresh air. Benazir Bhutto, however perceived she may be was a trailblazer in politics. I hope people of Pakistan carry her message with aplomb. Dear Pakistan, You deserve better leaders, we all do. Best wishes from neighbour across the Radcliffe line.
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Waheed UK May 27, 2022 08:20pm
There is no doubt that Benazir Bhutto was an intelligent and articulate woman who overcome many hurdles and challenges to become the PM of Pakistan. She , like her father, had great potential but it was wasted by her decision to become embroiled in family and siblings rivalries and her decision marry Zardari which ultimately destroyed her . Her greed for wealth was another reason for her downfall.
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FAZ May 27, 2022 08:21pm
Bhutto and IK share the same issue. Surrounded by incompetent and (to be proven) corrupt team!
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Tariq May 27, 2022 08:32pm
I think NZ PM does not know the the reality and only fond of popular one sided media. We as citizen bear the burden these so called world famous leader who plunder country and leave a legacy of family corrupt family politics.
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Hamed May 27, 2022 08:33pm
Great personalities!
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Waheed May 27, 2022 08:40pm
Excellent, the most democratic country never elected female politician,
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Zak May 27, 2022 08:43pm
Wait till she meets Zardari and baby zardari.
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Riz May 27, 2022 08:51pm
I appreciate Dawn for highlighting this at front page. I wish all Pakistani media do the same, not just this news but any news which make Pakistanis feel proud and give youngsters motivation to do something big in their life.
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Jaredlee007 May 27, 2022 09:01pm
The first female PM in South Asia was Indra Gandhi. Religion has nothing to did with who becomes the first PM. What matters is performance, which can be overlooked when people focus on emotions instead of ground reality.
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Rajiv May 27, 2022 09:15pm
Benazir was a bold leader and yes she was right Democracy is fragile….even in the US.
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Peter coro May 27, 2022 09:24pm
Irony same People party is in alliance with the sharifs to save their own interests. Nothing for public or democracy. If only sharifs would have known this.
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AJ May 27, 2022 09:30pm
Corrupt woman. Wish Benazir had anything in her to control her corrupt husband.
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bhaRAT© May 27, 2022 09:32pm
But unfortunately, Zardari hijacked PPP after Benazir’s death! It's no longer the same PPP. Now only PTI is people's party strong in all provinces.
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MRS May 27, 2022 09:34pm
Truly inspiring!! Proud to be a Pakistani.
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M. Emad May 27, 2022 09:35pm
Too bad she was corrupt
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Imtiaz Ali Khan May 27, 2022 09:36pm
As a Pakistani and a Sindhi Pakistani I must say Benazir Bhutto was very corrupt beyond words. The only person who out did her in corruption is her husband Zardari who is called as Mr 10% and his kids. I love the PM Jacindra Ardern for a great human being that she is but I must say her information about her is so limited.
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Jigen.m19 May 27, 2022 09:37pm
Not sure why. BB was called the daughter of corruption for her corrupt rule.
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PK May 27, 2022 09:43pm
what a rich tribute and what a pride as a Pakistani and alas, what a loss what BB's PPP has been reduced down to by none other than her own husband.
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GH hheheh May 27, 2022 09:44pm
Love living in secular world but wont give equal rights to minorities in own country
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MA May 27, 2022 09:48pm
Real Iron ladys.
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Jacinta May 27, 2022 09:56pm
Irony is that pakistan has never been a Democratic country! pakistan is, and always was, a military dictatorship
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Billo May 27, 2022 10:02pm
Jacinda just forgot to mention how important Benazir's thug husband was for her "democracy"
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Jon May 27, 2022 10:10pm
What did BB really do for Pakistan? I'm genuinely interested in knowing
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Gamer May 27, 2022 10:20pm
All woke talk
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Jaredlee007 May 27, 2022 10:21pm
Strange how people focus more on gender, faith and ethnicity than on results and merit in assessing leadership qualities. Also, it is a desire of many to gain acceptance by associating themselves with other figures instead of focusing on their own identity.
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Kublai May 27, 2022 10:32pm
What Jacinda Ardern does not write about, speak about, or talk about, is the $i.3 billion dollars USD that Mohtarma removed from the Pakland'd treasury.. This is money, what everyone and his brother knows about in Pakland. We still don't know how much Mr. 10%, [Mohtarma's husband, also known as 'I'm Sick Zardari,'] took as baksheesh, during Mohtarma's two stint at Pakland's throne. It is estimated to be in millions of dollars USD. No wonder, Baby Bhutto is a $millionaire$ in USD.
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Salman May 27, 2022 10:33pm
Wow. Great compliments to benazir bhutto, from a lady who showed her greatness when muslims were attacked in New Zealand .
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Saira Khan May 27, 2022 10:41pm
The face of Indian students when Jacinda spoke of BB, after they spent 4 in US years licking white peoples boots
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Irfan May 27, 2022 10:58pm
It’s good to see that there are still people who remember BB and her sacrifices. Unfortunately, Pakistanis never gave her the credit that she deserved. Rest In Peace: BB.
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SAB May 27, 2022 10:59pm
Benazir!! unparalleled, she was brave and truly one of the courageous ladies.
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Anonymouseee May 27, 2022 11:21pm
Somebody please inform Miss Ardern about the massive corruption that Benazir, her husband Zardari did in Pakistan. And her son Bilawal is on the same path. Absolutely despicable.
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Amir Sultan May 27, 2022 11:24pm
Name one thing Benazir did for this country!
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Ahmed May 27, 2022 11:33pm
She sounds just like Kimbra from the 'Somebody I used to know' Goteye song.
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SivaD May 27, 2022 11:41pm
Awesome!
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Umair May 27, 2022 11:47pm
Why didn't she mention her corruption too?
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Accent May 27, 2022 11:47pm
Be Nazir achievements for common people are obvious in the state of Sindh.
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AJ May 27, 2022 11:57pm
The mask of educated feudals doesn’t usually slip in front of liberal Westerners. The honorable PM of New Zealand can be excused for her ignorance.
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ajay May 28, 2022 12:27am
so vote bank appeasement is on in new Zealand also.
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Jaws May 28, 2022 12:49am
Does she know about the "locket" in Swiss vault? Guess not! Invite her for a tour of inner Sindh, the land of Mohtarma! People in Lord of the Rings had a better life than these Pakistanis!
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Syed A. Mateen May 28, 2022 01:22am
Thank you Prime Minister of New Zealand Ms Jacinda Ardern for paying homage to our former Prime Minister of Pakistan Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (Shaheed) during your speech.
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David M May 28, 2022 01:25am
She has no clue how corrupt BB was, the Surrey Mansion and the IPP agreements are proof of her corruption.
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Usman May 28, 2022 01:26am
Wow!! Proud moment for Pakistan!! A tribute by a legend herself.. But unfortunately, this is going to cause sleepless nights for some shortsighted, Pakistan Studies limited pseudointellectuals....
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Abida May 28, 2022 01:39am
Now now look carefully .The stage is being getting set by west to promote bilawal (SON of baynazir ) to become pakistan PM in 2028. In their countries they don't allow dynastic politics but here they want to bring that clown in power.The process has started
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Shaan khan May 28, 2022 01:40am
What are Benazir's contribution to Pakistan exactly? Yes, first woman muslim PM, great, but what did she do for Pakistan as a PM?
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Pak Patriot May 28, 2022 02:11am
Jacinda Arden your Heroine Benazir Bhutto stood by, while " Con Man Husband Asif Zardari " was busy Looting the Country. All this while Benazir looked the other way, pretending she did not know what was going on. A Shameless family, now the third generation, is readying itself, to Loot more.
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AJ May 28, 2022 02:37am
She can be excused for her ignorance.
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IMP May 28, 2022 02:48am
She was not only intelligent, great orator like her dad but also a brave woman instead of keeping her dad legacy alive and intact in true manner the other people have completely destroyed it and it is going down the hill day by day
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Ali May 28, 2022 02:48am
What you may not be familiar with is the poor governance and performance of her party and endemic corruption in Sindh. Come pay a visit. The proof is in the pudding. No doubt she was a very eloquent speaker. Unfortunately performance was awful.
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zf May 28, 2022 03:27am
Now PPP will blow this out of proportions to claim they're the torchbearers of democracy. And Zardari (who murdered Benazir) will make use of this in next elections, though he'll only just make a govt in Sindh.
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Imran khan (Mardan) KPK May 28, 2022 04:13am
Kudos to jacinda. She’s a very decent and civilised politician which is a rarity these days.
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Imran khan (Mardan) KPK May 28, 2022 04:14am
She should have mentioned how Zardari destroyed benazir’s legacy and her party.
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JS May 28, 2022 05:04am
Truly so. Democracy is so fragile and those wearing it's mantle, very vulnerable. Benazir, first woman PM of Pakistan, brave warrior and daughter of this nation, being praised and admired by another brave PM of NZ, is adorable. So proud of both wonderful women leaders.
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Secular May 28, 2022 05:12am
Jacinda Arden have one more year as PM she will be gone for ever . We have National leader peoples favorite will win the election.
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ST May 28, 2022 05:29am
Why out of blue ' Benazir is remembered. at this crucial time when Pakistanis donot want imported government anymore .
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MG May 28, 2022 05:40am
Leave aside foreigners, if Pakistan want pay tribute to the Ex PM, at least arrest her killer
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Abs UK May 28, 2022 06:12am
Beautiful tribute to great lady.
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Abs UK May 28, 2022 06:12am
Worst thing happened to Benazir Bhutto was Asif Ali Zardari.
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Shafiqullah May 28, 2022 06:18am
Yes with out any doubt at all BB was an outstanding person
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Alal May 28, 2022 06:19am
Did she know how corrupt she was?
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Khalid iqbal May 28, 2022 06:51am
Benazir had brains , and had love for her people .
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Yasser May 28, 2022 07:31am
Did she not know how corrupt she was?
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Lalit May 28, 2022 07:34am
She is incompetent and will bring down New Zealand for sure by her ultra leftist ideology.
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Rahul NZ May 28, 2022 08:04am
Democracy is indeed fragile and when we have Commie PMs like her.....she has messed up the country in the last two years.....her days in office are numbered. So she is doing the right thing by going to UN to secure her place in some UN posting once her Labour Party is booted out of Govt in Nov next year's election.
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Citizen May 28, 2022 08:44am
But these so called Islamic phobia people have done misery to Pakistan and whole world by assassinating a top world leader.
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Ali Ali May 28, 2022 08:47am
Little does the PM of NZ know that Benazir was a corrupt looter. She actually did practically nothing for the betterment of the country
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Life May 28, 2022 08:56am
Jiye Bhutto!
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ST May 28, 2022 09:47am
Why remembering Benazir at this arduous time when imported government is forced on Pakistanis??
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SAk May 28, 2022 10:25am
Alas we lost a great leader from whom nation was expecting a lot in her second innings. She witnessed a great amount of harassment from PPP’s current allies in 90.
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Mulki May 28, 2022 11:27am
I can see Newzealand future
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Imran Ahmed May 28, 2022 12:26pm
The kind & humane face of politicians. We need more women as world leaders.
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Zubair Ahmed Chandio May 28, 2022 12:46pm
She was the only leader to have convinced U.S administration to reverse Pressler amendment through Brown amendment. She aggressively pursued missile program for pak defence. She was First to introduce Lady health workers, first women bank, ladies-only police stations, rural-electrification and much more. Unfortunately she did not have enough time in office and faced issues from powerful institutions. Have informed views on her. Read history. Don't be bigots for nothing. Misogyny still runs deep in Pakistan. She goes unappreciated because she was a lady, and because of deep-rooted provincialism in Pakistan.
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Tadka May 28, 2022 01:53pm
@Saira Khan wow Saira kudos for noticing that!!!! That shows the amt of jealousy in you for being illiterates
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Syed Hasni May 28, 2022 03:01pm
Just a thought, "Do not speak ill of the Dead" No-one is a saint, in death or in life, and we need to articulate our grievances in order to heal. No-one should be silenced about their pain because their abuser has died. The dead can continue to harm us long after they’re gone. “Consider, firstly, if the criticism is true, and secondly, if it’s likely to generate any measurable change in the world. Consider the scale of wrongdoing, your own motivation for speaking out, who will benefit, and who will be harmed. We need to filter those through to consider what is morally acceptable.” I am very proud as a Pakistani that a New Zealander woman has remembered our first female Prime minister after her passing away, and the family especially the children should take a lot of pride in it. Sincerely
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 28, 2022 04:49pm
@Zubair Ahmed Chandio. Could she become what she became if she was not born in a feudal family with a golden spoon in her mouth in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan?
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Amna Piracha May 28, 2022 05:09pm
@Asma From where does this hatred spring. The older Bhutto was an outstanding statesman of his time and was recognised as through out the world. You should read ehaf Mao and Bertrand Russel said about him. He may gr buried but he lives in the hearts and minds of many across the world.
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Amna Piracha May 28, 2022 05:17pm
@Asma The older Bhutto may be buried but he lives in the minds and hearts of millions across the globe just as his daughter does.
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Zubair Ahmed Chandio May 28, 2022 06:01pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad She carved out a place for herself, though she was a woman who hardly survive in male-chauvinist society like Pakistan. And by the way, let's not be blind to the fact that she faced opposition from within the same aristocratic family she belonged to. Family wanted her brothers to lead party. And yeah, don't forget bias-projection in our country where a hero can be made a villain and a villain can be projected as a hero. And trust me it takes only days. Benazir faced that tragedy. Many people in our country are blamed for something they have never done. Honesty demands appreciation of someone's good. Provincialism, anti-women narratives deliberately played out through Islamic Jemhuri Ittehad and powerful institutions concocted a lot against her. She may not be angle but she stands out for good!
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Jamil Soomro, New York City May 28, 2022 06:32pm
@Zubair Ahmed Chandio I fully agree with your outstanding comment on Benazir Bhutto. She was truly a charismatic and intelligent PM of Pakistan like her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
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Saadia muazzam May 28, 2022 06:46pm
A great leader can appreciate other great leader.Benazir was a true leader in every sense.
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Ali May 29, 2022 03:11am
@Abdullah they are already at work if you read the comments below
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Shaheryar May 29, 2022 11:24am
@Jon corruption
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 29, 2022 11:40am
@Zubair Ahmed Chandio. Neutral, impartial, unbiased, matured, educated, enlightened, enduring, excelling and non-indoctrinated historical data prove that she became what she was only because of being born with a golden spoon in her mouth in a feudal family of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Unfortunately, the same multi-stage, multi-tier, multi-lateral and multi-color drama is now being orchestrated to bring her son and make him a leader of the oppressed, depressed, suppressed and compressed community of "Harees" in Sindh, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, whose fundamental human rights and privileges have been subjugated, crushed, quelled and quashed by her family since last many centuries.
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