Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto (born June 21, 1953) became the first woman to lead a Muslim country in modern times when she was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in 1988, only to be deposed 20 months later by the President of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan using the 8th Amendment to dissolve the parliament and allowing for re-elections within 90 days. She was re-elected in 1993 but was dismissed three years later amid various corruption scandals by the then President of Pakistan Farooq Leghari again using his discretionary powers under the 8th Amendment. Some of these scandals involve contracts awarded to Swiss companies during her regime. She was convicted by a Swiss court and has filed a petition on the decision which remain unresolved. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, has been implicated as well, and remained in jail until November 2004.

Charges of corruption

While she still heads the Pakistan People's Party and says she wants to return to office, most people in Pakistan are convinced that she and her husband were indeed extremely corrupt. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, served a seven-year prison term in Pakistan on charges of taking kickbacks. He was released in November 2004 http://www9.sbs.com.au/theworldnews/region.php?id=99541®ion=2. It is alleged that they stole hundreds of millions of dollars by demanding 'commissions' on all types of government contracts and other dealings. The Bhutto governments also threw many journalists in jail and engaged in extra-judicial killings, especially against the MQM in Karachi. Her foremost contribution without any doubt was Pakistan's Foreign Policy which was strengthened and revitalized. Pakistan made new friends and maintained better relations with many countries.

Related Topics:
Pakistan People's Party - Asif Ali Zardari - November - 2004 - MQM - Karachi

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