By Melinda Szell
Who is the Bhutto family?
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the fourth president and 10th prime minister of Pakistan. His wife Nusrat Bhutto took over his role after his execution. Their daughter, Benazir Bhutto, succeeded her mother as leader of the PPP.
*What is Benazir Bhutto known for?* At 35, she was the youngest person and first woman to lead the government of a modern Muslim-majority country. Her accomplishments include nationalist reform and modernization.
*When was Benazir Bhutto prime minister?* She served as leader of the PPP from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996. Her government was dismissed on corruption charges and she went into exile in 1998.
*When did she come back?* Bhutto returned Oct. 18, 2007 to prepare for the 2008 national elections. Before her assassination on Dec. 27, Bhutto had discussed a possible power-sharing deal with President Pervez Musharraf, who stepped down as military general in November. Bhutto promised to fight against terrorism and for democracy.
*How was she killed?* While driving away from a rally in the city of Rawalpindi, Bhutto was shot in the head by a gunman as she leaned out of the car’s sunroof to wave to the crowd. As no autopsy has been performed, the cause of death is still being disputed. Initial reports attributed her death to bullet wounds, but recently the Interior Ministry claimed the 54-year-old fractured her skull while ducking back into the vehicle. Al Qaeda commander Mustafa Abu al-Yazid has claimed responsibility.
*What happens now?* The elections have been delayed until February. Bhutto’s oldest son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, 19, was appointed chairman of the PPP on Dec. 30, with his father Asif Zardari as co-chairman. Asif will lead the party until Bilawal completes his studies at Oxford University.
