The woman behind the Bhuttos

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
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
She played the glamourous First Lady's role to the hilt. Seen here, Begum Bhutto with President Fazal Illahi Chaudhry and PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at a banquet given in their honour by their Majesties Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Malaysia and the Raja Permaisuri Agong.  ? Dawn File Photo
She played the glamourous First Lady's role to the hilt. Seen here, Begum Bhutto with President Fazal Illahi Chaudhry and PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto at a banquet given in their honour by their Majesties Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Malaysia and the Raja Permaisuri Agong. ? Dawn File Photo
She often promoted women's causes mostly from the party platform. Begum Nusrat Bhutto with her husband and Chinese premier Zhou Enlai in a 1964. ? Dawn File Photo
She often promoted women's causes mostly from the party platform. Begum Nusrat Bhutto with her husband and Chinese premier Zhou Enlai in a 1964. ? Dawn File Photo
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nusrat Bhutto with their children Benazir, Murtaza, Shahnawaz and Sanam. ? Dawn File Photo
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Nusrat Bhutto with their children Benazir, Murtaza, Shahnawaz and Sanam. ? 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
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
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
Begum Bhutto and BB share a tender moment. ? Dawn File Photo
Begum Bhutto and BB share a tender moment. ? Dawn File Photo
With Benazir Bhutto serving as the prime minister, Begum Bhutto once again played an active host for state guests. Seen here with BB, Yusuf Raza Gilani and Turkmenistan's PM Karim Niyazov. ? APP File Photo
With Benazir Bhutto serving as the prime minister, Begum Bhutto once again played an active host for state guests. Seen here with BB, Yusuf Raza Gilani and Turkmenistan's PM Karim Niyazov. ? APP File Photo
After a troubled sharing of party leadership with Benazir and then serving as senior minister in her daughter's two prematurely ended prime ministerial terms, came what proved to be a shattering blow from which she never recovered: the Sept 20, 1996 assassination of her elder son, Murtaza Bhutto. ? Dawn File Photo
After a troubled sharing of party leadership with Benazir and then serving as senior minister in her daughter's two prematurely ended prime ministerial terms, came what proved to be a shattering blow from which she never recovered: the Sept 20, 1996 assassination of her elder son, Murtaza Bhutto. ? Dawn File Photo
Mir Murtaza Bhutto's tragic death was too deep a shock for Nusrat. Her health started declining. She was eventually attacked by Alzheimer's, from which she never recovered. ? Dawn File Photo
Mir Murtaza Bhutto's tragic death was too deep a shock for Nusrat. Her health started declining. She was eventually attacked by Alzheimer's, from which she never recovered. ? Dawn File Photo
Here the Bhutto family is seen during happier days. ? Dawn File Photo
Here the Bhutto family is seen during happier days. ? Dawn File Photo
Begum Nusrat Bhutto died in Dubai. It's a quiet end to the life of the widow of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, mother of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and mother-in-law of President Asif Ali Zardari, away from her homeland. She will be buried at a graveyard laden with family tragedies. ? PPI File Photo
Begum Nusrat Bhutto died in Dubai. It's a quiet end to the life of the widow of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, mother of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and mother-in-law of President Asif Ali Zardari, away from her homeland. She will be buried at a graveyard laden with family tragedies. ? PPI File Photo

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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