Most Prominent Muslim Politician

History has seen the rise and fall of many prominent Muslim politicians who have played an active role in shaping global policies, defining political outlooks of their regions and establishing friendly ties with the rest of the world.

Although today’s Muslim world is experiencing an arduous task of combating global terrorism and extremism, their contribution in the world’s political scenario cannot be neglected. Leaders such as King Fahad of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir Bhutto, Ahmedinjad of Iran and many others have played key roles in the development of the Muslim world and strengthening ties with other nations.

Of all the Muslim leaders the world has seen in the last few decades, perhaps that one leader who deserves special mention would be Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan and chairperson of Pakistan’s Peoples Party. Her charismatic and influential personality won her the honor of being the first ever female prime minister in the world and especially in a Muslim country.

Benazir Bhutto was the daughter of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, founder of Pakistan’s Peoples Party (PPP), a political organization that would play the dominant role in Pakistan’s politics in the coming years. Popularly known in Pakistan as “Bibi” (a title of honor and respect), Benazir Bhutto took oath from the prime minister’s seat in 1988.

Early life

Benazir was a talented young girl, different from many other girls of her age from the start. After receiving elementary education in various schools in Pakistan and completing her O’ Levels, she was sent to the U.S. at Harvard University Radcliffe College. There she obtained a degree in political science and moved on to Oxford University. She was elected to the Standing Committee of Oxford Union Debating Society, one of the most esteemed committees in the world.

Achievements and prominence

Throughout her political career during power and during exile, she adamantly persisted in introducing reforms in the education system, rights of Pakistani women, the end of corruption, improvement of the economy and much more. Following the footsteps of her father, she took to the task of changing the rather gloomy political set up of Pakistan and addressing the needs of the underdeveloped regions in the country. She was seen as a hope for the people of Pakistan, especially the female sector.

Assassination

Benazir Bhutto was given the title of “Iron Lady” by her Indian counterparts. After giving up her self-imposed exile of 9 years and coming back to the political scenario in 2007, she was returning after addressing an immense rally when she was shot in the head, followed by a suicide blast. The assassination was captured on video but no clue to the people behind this political murder has been found so far.

By demonstrating courage and will to fight in the hardest of circumstances and by the mere fact that she was fighting in a heavily male- dominated society, Benazir Bhutto undoubtedly established herself as the most prominent Muslim leader of the 21^st century. She was awarded the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights in 2008.

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