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On Benazir Bhutto’s birthday, social media users share photos of leader through the ages

Supporters of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) gather at the site where former premier Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, on her fifth death anniversary in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2012. (AFP/ File)
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Updated 22 June 2021
SABAH BANO MALIK 
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On Benazir Bhutto’s birthday, social media users share photos of leader through the ages

  • Elected prime minister in 1988, Benazir Bhutto was the first woman democratically chosen to lead a Muslim state
  • Having spent three decades navigating the turbulent and often violent world of Pakistani politics, Benazir was assassinated in 2007
Updated 22 June 2021
SABAH BANO MALIK 

RAWALPINDI: On the 68th anniversary of Benazir Bhutto’s birthday, Pakistanis on Monday shared some of her famous and less known photos and video clips to celebrate the first woman democratically elected to lead a Muslim country. 
Born on June 21, 1953, Benazir was the first child of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who as she grew up rose in power, from a post in Pakistan’s United Nations delegation to prime minister. When her father was overthrown in a military coup and hanged in 1979, Benazir was soon given leadership of his Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). As an opposition leader, she spent half her time in prison or under house arrest.




A combination of photos shows former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto.

In 1988, she became Pakistan’s prime minister and the first woman elected as leader of a Muslim state.
Having spent three decades navigating the turbulent and often violent world of Pakistani politics, she was assassinated on Dec. 27, 2007, just days before general elections, which PPP was expected to win.
On the day of her birthday, Benazir’s son and political successor, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, shared photographs showing him together with his mother and her being welcomed by the people.

With a video clip, Twitterati @Anaya Khan showed exactly how supporters reacted to Benazir and shared a famous quote reflecting Bhutto’s sentiment: “’It seemed to me as I looked out and saw a sea of humanity that the fight for the truth is important because the day does come when you see the response to your struggle.”

Twitter user @babar_inam shared a clip showing Benazir’s childhood and early days in politics.

In a post with a famous portrait of Benazir in a white shawl, PPP politician Sohail Anwar Siyal wrote “Happy birthday to the daughter of East.”

“Though her life remained in turmoil from a younger age, yet she lived with matchless grace and integrity.”

Fiza Batool Gilani, daughter of former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, tweeted a photo Benazir in what would become her most recognizable look.

An archival black and white shot was shared by Twitter user @Kasim Gillani, showing young Benazir meeting women constituents.

PPP member Mir Gul Muhammad Jakhrani tweeted some of his own photographs with Benazir and a line: “You shall live on in our hearts.”

“Happy Birthday to leader of the people, inspiration of young girls like me,” wrote activist Meena Gabeena. “My graceful, visionary leader Benazir Bhutto.”

 

Topics: Benazir Bhutto Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)

Pakistan says will press ahead with trilateral cooperation with China and Bangladesh

Updated 4 sec ago
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Pakistan says will press ahead with trilateral cooperation with China and Bangladesh

  • Islamabad signals closer engagement with Dhaka amid shifting regional dynamics
  • Trilateral platform gains traction after recent China-Pakistan strategic talks last week
Updated 4 sec ago
Waseem Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday it would continue to pursue a trilateral cooperation framework with China and Bangladesh aimed at boosting regional connectivity, trade and development, as consultations among the three countries move forward.

The framework, launched last year at the senior officials’ level, has gained renewed attention as ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh improve following years of limited engagement, while Dhaka’s relations with India, a longtime archrival of Pakistan, have come under strain amid domestic political upheaval.

Addressing reporters on Thursday, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad remained committed to the Pakistan-China-Bangladesh cooperation mechanism and intended to follow up on earlier consultations to deliver “practical outcomes.”

“On the Pakistan, Bangladesh and China mechanism, if you recall, a meeting took place last year [2025] at the level of vice ministers and foreign secretaries,” Andrabi told a weekly media briefing, adding that Pakistan looked forward to “positive outcomes” in line with an agreed joint communiqué.

“So of course, the consultations between the three of us would continue in the future to strive for outcomes which are beneficial for the peace, progress and prosperity of our people,” he said when asked specifically about Bangladesh’s role in the framework.

The trilateral cooperation was also referenced in a joint press communiqué issued after the Seventh Round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue held last week.

“The two sides expressed readiness to continue leveraging the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’

Dialogue and the China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation mechanism to deliver new outcomes,” the statement said.
Andrabi said Pakistan’s engagement with China would continue across bilateral and trilateral formats, underscoring Islamabad’s preference for cooperative regional approaches focused on economic development rather than bloc politics.

Bangladesh was part of Pakistan until 1971, when it gained independence following a bloody war of independence. Relations between the two countries have shown signs of improvement in recent months, as Dhaka recalibrates its foreign policy after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. India has so far declined Bangladesh’s request to extradite Hasina, who fled to New Delhi after violent student-led protests.

In a related development, Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu earlier this week held talks with a high-level Bangladeshi defense delegation on strengthening air force cooperation, including the potential sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets jointly developed by Pakistan and China.
 

Topics: Pakistan China Bangladesh trilateral ties Foreign Office of Pakistan

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