ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday paid an emotional tribute to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on her 73rd birth anniversary, describing her as a leader who defied convention and redefined what women in power could achieve in Pakistan.
In a statement posted on X, President Zardari – her widower – said Benazir “showed that leadership is never one-dimensional”, in a message that combined personal grief with public remembrance.
Born on 21 June 1953 in Karachi, Benazir Bhutto remains one of Pakistan’s most iconic and polarising political figures.
Twice elected prime minister, she made history as the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation, breaking through political and cultural barriers that long defined the country’s leadership landscape.
In his message, Zardari said Benazir carried many identities throughout her life – daughter, mother, wife, friend, patriot, and a citizen of the world “committed to peace”.
Beyond those roles, he added, was a woman who met every responsibility with courage, conviction and a deep sense of duty.
Benazir married Asif Ali Zardari in 1987, a union that brought together two powerful political families and endured years of political turmoil, exile and public scrutiny.
Together, they navigated one of the most volatile chapters in Pakistan’s modern political history.
Her life was marked by both triumph and tragedy, celebrated by supporters as a symbol of resilience and criticised by opponents who disagreed with her policies.
On her birth anniversary, Zardari’s message struck a reflective tone, portraying her legacy as one that continues to echo in Pakistan’s political memory – part inspiration, part controversy, and still deeply felt nearly two decades after her assassination in 2007.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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