Benazir Bhutto

When Benazir Bhutto was first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan at 35, she became the youngest chief executive in the world and the first woman elected ruler of a Muslim country in modern history. She served two non-consecutive terms, but later was convicted in absentia of corruption charges. In October 2007, she ended eight years in exile and returned to Pakistan to run for office. She was assassinated two months later.

(Image of Benazir Bhutto by iFaqeer on Wikipedia)

An updated version of "Daughter of Destiny," which was originally published in 1989, was planned for 2008 release before Benazir Bhutto was assassinated.

The updated autobiography, titled "Daugther of the East," is described this way by Amazon:

Beautiful, charismatic, and the first and only woman to lead a post-colonial Muslim state, Benazir Bhutto achieved international renown in her native Pakistan until charges of corruption forced her into exile in the late 1990s. From her upbringing in one of Pakistan's richest families to her subsequent politicization and her arrest following her father's execution, Bhutto's autobiography chronicles a life of strength, dedication, and courage in the face of adversity. This updated volume addresses her personal and political activities over the past two decades and how her country has changed since being thrust into international limelight following 9/11. Intriguing and impassioned, this is the life story of one of the most prominent female politicians of the 20th century.

The White House released the following press release after hearings news of Benazir Bhutto's assassination:

"Laura and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of Benazir Bhutto, to her friends, to her supporters. We send our condolences to the families of the others who were killed in today's violence. And we send our condolences to all the people of Pakistan on this tragic occasion.

The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy. Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice. Mrs. Bhutto served her nation twice as Prime Minister and she knew that her return to Pakistan earlier this year put her life at risk. Yet she refused to allow assassins to dictate the course of her country.

We stand with the people of Pakistan in their struggle against the forces of terror and extremism. We urge them to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life."

Highlights from the Pakistan leader's life

Jun 1953 - born in Karachi

1969 - admitted to Harvard University at age 16

1971 - Benazir's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, elected president of Pakistan

1973- graduated from Harvard with a degree in political science

1973 - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto elected Prime Minister

1974 - attended Oxford University

Jun 1977 - returned to Pakistan two weeks before General Zia-ul-Haq staged a coup against her father, PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and imprisoned the former prime minister on charges of murder; Benazir Bhutto arrested

Apr 1979 - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto hanged

1984 - Benazir released from prison and goes into exile in England

Apr 1986 - returned to Pakistan and welcomed by a million supporters at Lahore airport

Jul 1987 - married Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi

Aug 1988 - General Zia killed in an air crash

Dec 1988 - Bhutto sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan

Aug 1990 - dismissed as PM by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and accused her of incompetence and corruption

Oct 1993 - re-elected prime minister

Nov 1996 - President Pakistan Farooq Leghari dimissed Bhutto as PM and dissolved the National Assembly

1999 - went into exile in the UK and Dubai

1999 - convicted in absentia of corruption charges after failing to appear in court; the ruling was later overturned

Oct 2007 - granted amnesty against corruption charges and returned to Pakistan

Dec 2007 - assassinated near Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Benazir Bhutto is not the first female world leader to be assassinated. The former PM joins India's Indira Gandhi and Rwanda's Agathe Uwilingiyimana on the short list of women prime ministers who have been killed during or after serving their country as head of state.

• Official Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto site
• Women's International Center - Benazir Bhutto Biography
• The New York Times - News About Benazir Bhutto

News of Bhutto's assassination has prompted a number of eBay sellers to offer memorial gifts.

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