Murtaza Bhutto

Murtaza Bhutto (September 18 1954 - September 20 1996) was a Pakistani politician. Born in Karachi, he was eldest son of the former

Related Topics:
September 18 - 1954 - September 20 - 1996 - Pakistan - Karachi

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Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Murtaza graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University in 1976 and continued on to do graduate school at Christ College, Oxford University. In 1977, his father was removed from power and later executed in 1979. In response to the loss of power by his father, Murtaza is thought to have been instrumental in the formation of Al-Zulfikar, a political organization that has been linked to various terrorist acts in Pakistan. In 1981, they carried out the hijacking of a PIA airline airplane in which they cold-bloodedly shot a Lieutenant. In 1985, his brother Shahnawaz bhutto died of drug abuse in France.

Related Topics:
Prime Minister of Pakistan - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto - Harvard University - Oxford University - Al-Zulfikar - Terrorist - Shahnawaz bhutto - France

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Bhutto would return to Pakistan in the 1993, a few years after his sister Benazir had become Prime Minister for the second time. Upon arrival, Murtaza was put into jail on charges built during martial law by the regime of General Zia ul Haq in the 1980s. Despite this setback, Bhutto was able to campaign for and win a seat in the provincial assembly of Sindh. Bhutto was also a critic of his sister's government, accusing it of corruption. These accusations made him a political enemy of his own sister, and split the Pakistan People's Party. The split would also affect the family, leading his mother Nusrat to publicly support him over his sister.

Related Topics:
Benazir - Martial law - Zia ul Haq - Sindh - Pakistan People's Party

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As the political rivalry heated up, Murtaza began to accuse police forces of targeting his group. On the 20th of September 1996, there were close to 100 policemen placed in sniper like positions around Bhutto's 70 Clifton residence. Bhutto and his associates were all shot in fatal positions, their injuries were not sustained in 'cross-fire' as defenders of the Karachi Police like to claim. Forensic and ballistic evidence later proved that injuries sustained by the police were in fact self inflicted.

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The police left the victims to bleed for approximately 45 minutes before they were taken to hospitals, albeit hospitals that are not equipped to handle emergencies. The tribunal held later in 1997 ruled that Murtaza could not have been killed without approval from the highest echelons of government. Benazir Bhutto has not yet been able to account for her government's and police force's role in her brothers slaying. The trial is still in the courts of Pakistan. Bhutto is survived by his wife Ghinwa Bhutto, who is Lebanese, and a son and daughter.

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