Ghinwa Bhutto
Encyclopedia
Ghinwa Bhutto is a politician
and the widow of Murtaza Bhutto
. She is also the sister-in-law of the late Benazir Bhutto
. She is of Syrian-Lebanese
origin and is the second wife of Murtaza Bhutto
and stepmother of Fatima Bhutto
.
Ghinwa has been estranged from the powerful Bhutto
family ever since she accused Benazir and her husband Asif Ali Zardari
of conspiracy to the 1996 murder of Mir Murtaza
. She also accused Benazir and Zardari of corruption. Zardari was arrested as a suspect in the murder of Murtaza, he was later released due to lack of evidence. Her husband's killers were never brought to justice.
In 1997, Ghinwa staked claim to the Bhutto political legacy. She formed PPP-SB
and became the chairperson of that and ran for election in Larkana
in 3 Feb 1997. Benazir convinced her mother Nusrat Bhutto
, then president of the Pakistan Peoples Party
, to run against her. Though her opponent suffered from Alzheimer's disease, Ghinwa was defeated.
Ghinwa lives in the Bhutto family home in Karachi
with her son Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr. (named after his grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto) and her step daughter Fatima Bhutto
. Prior to marrying Murtaza, Ghinwa worked as a ballet dancer/teacher.
In 2002, Pakistani election authorities rejected her candidacy for the October 10 election. Ghinwa was rejected on the grounds of not possessing the required minimum academic qualification of a university degree. In August 2007 Ghinwa Bhutto passed the BA exams from the Punjab University in First Division with 526 marks. Ghinwa, roll # 86604, appeared as a private candidate. To be eligible to contest elections, Ghinwa chose to take the Punjab University BA exam because the results were to be declared by the end of August, before the elections.
After the first suicide attack following Benazir's return to Pakistan in October 2007, Ghinwa remarked: "I think she has invited trouble herself. She has always thrived on this victimisation complex. She always loves to be the victim and whatever happens to anybody, at the end she is a victim."
However, when Benazir was assassinated on December 27, 2007 Ghinwa put their differences aside. She attended the funeral with her step daughter, Fatima.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the widow of Murtaza Bhutto
Murtaza Bhutto
Dr. Mir Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto was a Pakistani politician and the Member of the Parliament of Pakistan, representing Pakistan People's Party from the Larkana constituency...
. She is also the sister-in-law of the late Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
. She is of Syrian-Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
origin and is the second wife of Murtaza Bhutto
Murtaza Bhutto
Dr. Mir Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto was a Pakistani politician and the Member of the Parliament of Pakistan, representing Pakistan People's Party from the Larkana constituency...
and stepmother of Fatima Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto born, Fatima Murtaza Bhutto on 29 May 1982, is a Pakistani poet and writer. She is granddaughter of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the niece of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and daughter of Murtaza Bhutto....
.
Ghinwa has been estranged from the powerful Bhutto
Bhutto
Bhutto is a Sindhi, Rajput tribe settled in Sindh, Pakistan.-Bhutto tribe:The Bhutto tribe is a Rajput tribe that has been settled in Sindh for over two centuries, occupying part of Balochistan in Kachhi, Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, Bhag and Mithri, having migrated to Sindh from Jaiselmere in India...
family ever since she accused Benazir and her husband Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari
Asif Ali Zardari is the 11th and current President of Pakistan and the Co-Chairman of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party . He is also the widower of Benazir Bhutto, who served two nonconsecutive terms as Prime Minister....
of conspiracy to the 1996 murder of Mir Murtaza
Murtaza Bhutto
Dr. Mir Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto was a Pakistani politician and the Member of the Parliament of Pakistan, representing Pakistan People's Party from the Larkana constituency...
. She also accused Benazir and Zardari of corruption. Zardari was arrested as a suspect in the murder of Murtaza, he was later released due to lack of evidence. Her husband's killers were never brought to justice.
In 1997, Ghinwa staked claim to the Bhutto political legacy. She formed PPP-SB
Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto)
The Pakistan Peoples Party is a political party in Pakistan and one of the breakaway factions of the main Pakistan Peoples Party. The party is currently headed by Ghinwa Bhutto, the widow of Murtaza Bhutto....
and became the chairperson of that and ran for election in Larkana
Larkana
Larkana or Larkano is the fourth largest city in the north-western part of Sindh Province, Pakistan, and is located within Larkana District.The old name of larkano is chandka which was changed in 1901. In August 2000 Larkana celebrated its hundred years of existence...
in 3 Feb 1997. Benazir convinced her mother Nusrat Bhutto
Nusrat Bhutto
Begum Nusrat Bhutto was an Iranian-Pakistani who was the wife of the 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, serving as the First Lady of Pakistan during his premiership from 1971 until Bhutto's removal in 1977. She became her husband's successor as the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples...
, then president of the Pakistan Peoples Party
Pakistan Peoples Party
The Pakistan Peoples Party , is a democratic socialist political party in Pakistan affiliated with Socialist International. Pakistan People's Party is the largest political party of Pakistan...
, to run against her. Though her opponent suffered from Alzheimer's disease, Ghinwa was defeated.
Ghinwa lives in the Bhutto family home in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
with her son Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Jr. (named after his grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto) and her step daughter Fatima Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto born, Fatima Murtaza Bhutto on 29 May 1982, is a Pakistani poet and writer. She is granddaughter of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the niece of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and daughter of Murtaza Bhutto....
. Prior to marrying Murtaza, Ghinwa worked as a ballet dancer/teacher.
In 2002, Pakistani election authorities rejected her candidacy for the October 10 election. Ghinwa was rejected on the grounds of not possessing the required minimum academic qualification of a university degree. In August 2007 Ghinwa Bhutto passed the BA exams from the Punjab University in First Division with 526 marks. Ghinwa, roll # 86604, appeared as a private candidate. To be eligible to contest elections, Ghinwa chose to take the Punjab University BA exam because the results were to be declared by the end of August, before the elections.
After the first suicide attack following Benazir's return to Pakistan in October 2007, Ghinwa remarked: "I think she has invited trouble herself. She has always thrived on this victimisation complex. She always loves to be the victim and whatever happens to anybody, at the end she is a victim."
However, when Benazir was assassinated on December 27, 2007 Ghinwa put their differences aside. She attended the funeral with her step daughter, Fatima.
See also
- Bhutto familyBhutto familyThe Bhutto family is a political family in Pakistan. Bhutto is a Rajput tribe settled in Sindh.-List of family members:* Pir Bakhsh Bhutto* * Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto, Ameer Bakhsh Bhutto, Illahi Bux Bhutto...
- 70 Clifton70 Clifton70 Clifton , is a house situated at Clifton Road, in Clifton, in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.70 Clifton was the residence of the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, President of Pakistan, in the early 1970s...
- Politics of PakistanPolitics of PakistanPolitics of Pakistan have taken place in the framework of a federal republic, where the system of government has at times been parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential. In the current parliamentary system, the President of Pakistan is the largely ceremonial head of state, the Prime...
- Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto)Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto)The Pakistan Peoples Party is a political party in Pakistan and one of the breakaway factions of the main Pakistan Peoples Party. The party is currently headed by Ghinwa Bhutto, the widow of Murtaza Bhutto....