Former chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party Begum Nusrat Bhutto, widow of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and mother of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, died in the United Arab Emirates after a long and protracted illness on Sunday.
Begum Nusrat, 82, was a Pakistani of Iranian origin. She was born on March 23, 1929 and got married on September 8‚ 1951 with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She was also elected as member of the National Assembly from Larkana in 1988 and 1993. As the first lady from 1973–77, Begum Nusrat functioned as a political hostess and accompanied her husband on a number of overseas visits.
In 1979, after the trial and execution of her husband, Begum Nusrat succeeded her husband as leader of the Pakistan People’s Party as chairperson for life. In 1982, ill with cancer, she was given permission to leave Pakistan by the government of General Zia-ul-Haq for medical treatment in London at which point Benazir Bhutto, became acting leader of the party.
Nusrat Bhutto passes away
