Benazir Bhutto's mother
Nusrat dies after illness in Dubai

Arrangements being made to take the body to final resting place in Larkana

 Sunday, October 23, 2011

An undated picture of Benazir Bhutto with her mother Nusrat in Islamabad. The former first lady of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977 outlived three of her children and is survived by one child, Sanam Bhutto, who lives in London.


Nusrat Bhutto, mother of the late Benazir Bhutto and mother-in-law of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, died in Dubai yesterday after a protracted illness. She was 82.

Nusrat Bhutto, who was born on March 23, 1929, to the Esfahan family in Iran, had lived in Dubai for more than 10 years.

She was recovering from a stroke and had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for several years.


Nusrat breathed her last yesterday at the Iranian Hospital where she had been admitted about two months ago.

Pakistan’s former first lady, Begum Nusrat Bhutto died Sunday afternoon at Iranian Hospital in Dubai where she was brought under critical condition a day earlier. The 82-year-old lady, whose husband and daughter both served as prime ministers of Pakistan and a political force herself, was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for last many years and had been staying in Dubai for the last 10 years. Begum Nusrat was the first member of ZAB family who died on a hospital bed. She witnessed the traumatic hanging of his prime minister husband Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and violent deaths of her two sons Shahnawaz Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto and her former Prime Minister daughter Benazir Bhutto.

Prime Minister Gilani on Sunday announced 10-day national mourning on the demise of Begum Nusrat Bhutto. He also announced public holiday on Monday and cancelled all his engagements.

Born on March 23, 1929 in a rich Iranian business family, Begum Nusrat was married to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto on September 8, 1951 and was her second wife. She had four children, Benazir, Murtaza, Shahnawaz and Sanam. Only Sanam Bhutto is now alive and living in London.

Begum Nusrat was the first member of ZAB family who died on a hospital bed. She witnessed the traumatic hanging of his prime minister husband Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and violent deaths of her two sons Shahnawaz Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto and her former Prime Minister daughter Benazir Bhutto.

She went to Dubai along with her daughter Benazir Bhutto who spent eight years in self exile and took care of her ailing mother apart from leading the PPP from abroad after her party suffered immensely from dictatorial regime of Ziaul Haq and Nawaz Sharif. Nusrat Bhutto showed extraordinary personal strength and determination when she stood by her husband who was ousted in military coup on July 5, 1977 and was later sent to gallows on April 4, 1979. During Zia’s regime, Begum Bhutto personally suffered immensely as a number of cases were filed against her. The military government and elected government of Nawaz Sharif haunted her for many years to discourage her from keeping PPP as a political force alive. She led processions for democracy and was even suffered when she was hit by the police baton charge in one of the demonstration. She said to be suffered a wound in her head in a baton charge and was denied proper treatment and was banned from travelling abroad by General Zia. She was a staunch democrat and had always stood by her husband since the day; General Ayub Khan removed him as foreign minister from his cabinet in 1966. She stood behind Z.A Bhutto and encouraged him to enter politics. It was her support which gave Z.A Bhutto the strength to stand up and fight for democracy. Begum Bhutto was elected member of the National in 1977, 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1997 before she shifted to Dubai with daughter Benazir Bhutto. As the first lady she was in the forefront of social activities aimed at alleviating the lot of poor peasants through official channels and as minister. She was seen as a mother figure by the poor womenfolk of Pakistan who had great faith in her and confidence that as long as she was around she will do whatever possible to make their lives better. As a mother she had suffered hugely when her youngest son Shahnawaz Bhutto was poisoned to death in France and when her elder son was gunned own by Sindh Police in a staged encounter just few yards away from 70 Clifton where she had lived after marrying ZA Bhutto. Due to these most traumatic experiences, Begum Bhutto’s health deteriorated and she went to UAE with her daughter who returned to Pakistan from her eight years self exile on Oct 18, 2007. she escaped a twin bomb blast attack on her reception motorcade on Share Faisal on October 18 but the assassins finally reached her on December 27 when they succeeded in assassinating her in an attack on her car after she was returning addressing a public meeting at Liaquat Bagh Rawalpindi, where the first Prime Minister of Pakistan Khan Liaquat Khan was gunned down on Oct 16, 1951. A pall of gloom descended on localities dominated by PPP as soon as the official announcement was made about Nusrat Bhutto’s death in Dubai. People from all walks of life remembered the graceful figure of Begum Nusrat Bhutto attired in Sari and moving around in official functions and political rallies. She was as popular among the PPP cadres as her husband ZA Bhutto.


Twitter Alert: Nusrat Bhutto "faced Zia like a rock"


Published: October 23, 2011

"Her picture after being clubbed in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore remains a strong symbol of struggle for democracy." PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

The death of Nusrat Bhutto, widow of former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and mother of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto sent a wave of sorrow among Pakistanis online, with many recalling anecdotes of the First Lady and her struggle for democracy amidst tragedy.

While condolences streamed online, Twitter users also acknowledged Nusrat Bhutto’s sacrifices and suffering during the era of General Ziaul Haq.
Twitter updates

SaimaMohsin
Sad News, Begum Nusrat Bhutto has passed away – a woman who has witnessed much of Pakistan’s brutal history.

abbasnasir59
I recall with admiration Begum Bhutto’s defiant attempt to break the cordon around Pindi jail and get to ZAB. She faced Zia like a rock.

marvisirmed
She was second to only Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah in impacting Pakistani politics #BegumNusratBhutto

marvisirmed
Ijazul Haq offering condolence for #BegumNusratBhutto on Geo TV. Mr. Haq, do you apologize for what your father did to her? Yes or no?????

sarataseer
Dad at the wheel, BB & Begum in the back, ppp workers hand got stuck in the window & Begum gave BB a smack 4 hurting the worker unknowingly.

sarataseer
Looked at @SalmaanTaseer, he looked at me…”the PM just got smacked” I whispered…peels of laughter

khsyedaliraza
Her picture after being clubbed in #Gaddafi Stadium Lahore remains a strong symbol of struggle for democracy. RIP #NusratBhutto!

xaynabnaqvi
The first natural death in bhutto,s family ..#nusratbhutto

Saba_Imtiaz
@fbhutto, on Geo right now, says that Nusrat’s grandchildren were not even told of her death and found out on TV.

NasimZehra
Begum Nusrat Bhutto dies. Few would have gone through as much pain as she did. May Allah bless her soul. Ameen.

Read more tweets by searching Nusrat Bhutto on Twitter.
Follow the Tribune Twitterati list to stay updated on local news and current affairs.