“Beautiful and charismatic, the daughter of one of Pakistan’s most popular leaders — Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, hanged by General Zia in 1979 — Benazir Bhutto is not only the first woman to lead a post-colonial Muslim state, she achieved a status approaching that of a royal princess, only to be stripped of her power in another example of the bitter political in-fighting that has riven her country. From her upbringing in one of Pakistan’s richest families, the shock of the contrast of her Harvard and Oxford education, and subsequent politicisation and arrest after her father’s death, Bhutto’s life has been full of drama.” – Simon & Schuster, Publishers of Daughter of the East (& In the Line of Fire).
Daughter of the East is a ‘new’ edition, the reason being that it is an updated version of the first edition, published in 1988. In fact the newness extends to just 39 pages of the 431 page-book. That is shocking given that one would have expected the two decades since 1988 to have given Miss Bhutto ample to write about as she has been prime minister twice, lost a brother and celebrated the birth of her three children. That is not to be. Given this and by reasons that I will detail below, I would like to divide this review into two distinct parts.
From 1953- 1987
Benazir Bhutto is certainly a woman of literary talent; I’ll give her that. Her education at Radcliffe/Harvard and the Other Place (a.k.a Oxford) has helped her come out with a very readable book that is in stark contrast to another book released last year: In the Line of Fire. The latter I found quite dull and lost interest somewhere near the 100th page. Khair, that is a discussion best left for another post.
She leads readers through a tumultuous life that can be best described with an image of a mountain climber. It follows well through the ups and downs of her journey, engaging the readers with vivid descriptions of the victimisation of her family by the Zia- led military junta. A majority of the content is dedicated to the lead up to the hanging of her father and the time she spent in solitary confinement afterwards. Certainly, Benazir would be successful in gaining empathy from readers by way of her accounts, unless, the reader is a Pakistani who holds deep suspicions regarding anything to do with the Bhutto clan. What makes the book even more interesting is the fact that she includes accounts of her contemporaries which really does give a good second dimension to the book.
In all, this part of the book is a real page turner and it has resemblance to fictional works, full of conspiracies, death, and a lot of emotion. Further, as works of fictions go, the good can do no evil and the evil…well, can only do evil and Daughter of the East follows this principle to the letter. However, given that this is not a work of fiction but instead an autobiography, the fact that Miss Bhutto is portrayed as the victim of all victims without a faulty gene in her body does mean you have to read it with a bit more than a pinch of salt.
From 1988-2007
The new chapter is bitterly disappointing. Having started to write this review in the middle of the book, I thought it would carry on in its engaging fashion. Yet, as I read through this part the fact that it was 39 pages was actually a God-send since it ended the misery of reading it quite quickly. However, it did still manage to leave a bad taste. It almost felt as if Miss Bhutto had worked towards the goal of becoming the leader of our country and the road ended there and that she had no aspirations for the time of her prime-ministership. The only person that would find her accounts from 1988 interesting would be the ardent PPP supporter who finds the ‘I did this…I did that…’ sentences engaging.
As I stated earlier, there is great injustice done to proportionality in the autobiography. One example stands out: Whilst Benazir dedicates an entire chapter to the build- up to the death and the death itself of her brother Shah Nawaz Bhutto (part of the 1988 version), she dedicates less than a paragraph to the death of her other brother Mir Murtaza with whom she had political differences (update).
Conclusion
Therefore, you would not be at fault if you bought the much cheaper, older version of the book and updated yourself by reading the ‘startling revelations’ contained in the articles listed at the bottom of this review. In any case you would be doing Miss Bhutto a favour by fulfilling the reason this book was brought out. The hurry in which the book seems to have been written and its lack of new content only means one thing: it was definitely published to give her publicity. As it is, the timing of the book is suspicious and her recent comments on television do seem to suggest sunnier days ahead for the PPP in Pakistan. For that reason alone, it’s a book (the older one) worth reading.
Benazir’s new book has some starting revelations, by Mariana Baabar, The News.
Benazir is not fit to lead any entity and for that matter leading a nation is beyond her capabilities. Firstly, she is corrupt and does not possess any vision for the country at large. In addition, her husband, Mr Asif Ali Zardari, is a thug who loots Pakistani exchequer every time his wife attains power. Additionally, Benazir’s feudal background is a disgrace because it is the feudal nexus in Pakistani politics that has kept Pakistan from developing educationally and otherwise. As a result, due to feudal dominance in politics modernity never arrived in Pakistan. Lastly, PPP signifies everything that is wrong with the Pakistani politics–feudalism, corruption, mismanagement, and incompetence. In sum, Benazir and her cabal are not fit and don’t deserve to govern 160 million people of Pakistan.
When I read excerpts of her latest book in NY Times, I could not resist laughing at this opportunist chamelion changing her colors again.
Well, are there any alternative leaders? Perhaps Imran Khan.
We will have to wait for the political circus to begin.
“Beautiful and charismatic”? Good one.
That’s exactly the point Anwar, I think even the General realises that there aren’t and is settling for the best of the worst (in his opinion). Imran Khan would be an obvious choice but the problem is that he cannot muster enough support within the masses for his party or himself. Whereas, you and I can be vehemently opposed to BB, she certainly has some very loyal supporters. Erase that: Her dad had some very loyal supporters and they feel that in order to continue his work they have to support her.
Daily Times, Tuesday, 17th April-’ ISLAMABAD: Top emissaries of President General Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto have finalised a draft of a deal between their bosses, Daily Times has learnt.
Under the deal, sources said, the Pakistan People’s Party will first support the re-election of the president by the present assemblies, and later endorse the president in the assemblies after the general elections. In return, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) would stop pursuing corruption cases against Benazir and Asif Ali Zardari in Swiss courts.’
What next?
Why does that even surprise us? We’ve known this all along. It’s only interesting that its been reported so casually as a news report in the Daily Times.
The good news for Musharraf is that becauase of the widespread support that the BB has there would be very little need of ‘working’ on the votes.
It is with reference to the information and comments of Benazir Bhutto regarding the dimissal of her First Regime 1988-1990.Now there are rumours and news items regading her deal with the present military regime.Being a two times former prime minister and an intelligent lady and a wise politician of high caliber she must not overlook the common party workers who would ask the lady that why she didnt make such a deal with General Zia when the life of her father was at the stake,when they remained under the most ruthless martial law regime in history for eleven long years,and they may also ask the background of new wisdom which led thier leader to make an alliance or a deal with the “enlightened dictator”ignoring the principals which are part of the long and dignified struggle of The Pakistan Peolpes Party.At the end let me dare to remind my honourable leader that what she gained in 1988 when she made a deal with the President Ghulam Ishaq Khan to enter into the prime minister house.
Re: your point as to why she didn’t make a deal with General Zia: It is quite clear from her own writings (from what can be adduced) that she would have given into the demands that were presented to her by Zia at the time of his trials. However, it was her father according to her, who adamently, dare I say- based on principle, made the choice of not having anything to do with any ‘deals’ even where it was his own life at stake.
One thing everyone ignores: If Benazir Bhutto does not have people’s support, why are we wasting our energy arguing about her. If she does, what is it that the people of Pakistan see that we English-speaking Pakistanis do not see.
After President Marcos of Philippines was removed from power, he was tried and corruption charges against him and his wife were proven in courts. If something like that had happened in Pakistan, things might be different.
I also remember reading that Imelda Marcos returned to Philippines and also participated in elections. She lost badly and only got her own seat in the National Assembly.
If people of Pakistan were convinced that Benazir Bhutto and Zardari are corrupt, they would also be losers in elections like Imelda Marcos.
Let us spend some time thinking why the situation is different in Pakistan.
Maybe people do not trust the military and allegations it makes.
Maybe the thinking of the well-to-do is very different from the poor people.
Imran Khan is praised in many blogs but in Pakistan he only managed to get his seat in NA with help of Qazi Hussain and MMA.
Wasiq: I agree with you totally. You make many solid point. Imran Khan is a joke to even consider. If BB is considered a hypocrite I want to now what an aging so-called clean and parhez chap like him is doing smoking joins and other drugs in pill form and having countless affairs with girls half his age…He is an aging playboy.
Politics specialy in Pakistan takes a flexible mind and an ability to get beyond one’s arrogance. He certainly does not have these qualities.
The voters as I keep pointing ot can see the diference between a real and ake politician who hcan handle - however badly the business of running a complex country like Pakistan….
Benazir is the only viable candidate for leadership. Pakistan will get
destroyed under Musharaff.
missing u miss bhutto n come back
luv u sooooooooooooooo much benazir
u’ll always be in the heart of the democracy lovers…Miss U
Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto was Legend Leader, and her name waill be written in golden Words.She is the leader, living in the hearts and memmories of the muslims all time.May God bless you. you are with us in our Memmories.You are great for your great deeds. Democracy Champion Goodbye.
the assassination of benazir Bhutto is nit good for pakistan i think that this is big loss for our country and i think now in pakistan there is no international leader to handle this country this is not good for pakistan as for as for people of pakistan and this kind of leaders will not born again so this is so terrible for pakistan and the democrasy of pakistan and we cant be forgot the bb acheivement n she wil do for pakistan she is the peoples leader and she live in the heart of the peoples so the struggle of bhutto family always remamber and on the last “How many Bhuttos can be killed? From many houses Bhuttos will come,”
There are many who may disagree with the politics of Benazir Bhutto. But being a politician she carved a way to enter into pakistani politics which the people call a Deal.
Let me assure that it was she who forced the General to make arrangements for her re-entering into the political stream of pakistan and by doing this she became a major player in pakistani politics. Although she is no more with us but her struggle and sacrifice will remain into the hearts of many who have democratic minds.
Mr. Zardari handed over the torch of democracy to his 19 year old son to which some quarters object. I would like to say that heading the Peoples Party is the bargain of life and any one who has no fear of his life can become a Bhutto the condition is that he must have a heart to sacrifice his life. Thus Mr. Zardari has thrown his 19 year old son into the unmerciful politics of pakistan. Surely Mr. Zardari has a big heart for the people of Pakistan.
mohtarama benazir bhutto isone of the great leaders of the world.she is the legend of this country.she always alive in the hearts of pakistanies and no one forget bhutto family in rest of the world till the qayamat.our prays are for shaheed family that may god give them jannat..aamin…she was such a brave lady and a brave priministre and also a great women….benazir tujhay salam..tu waqaie hi benazir hai..
i dont no if the book is bised or not.but reading about the trial of mr.bhutto…it was such a joke!so that was a trial?a just one?no rules.no laws.no egulations.no democracy.its a miracle this country is still here.
z.a.bhutto was and is our hero.they murdred him.thats wat the army does.im sure had the quaid lived a few more years they wud`ve done worse to him.
God save our country from these traitors who just need to sniff a dollar to change their loyalties.
ALL POLITICIANS OF PAKISTAN ARE GREEDY .. BB ALSO INCLUDED IN THESE POLITICIANS …THERE MAIN AIM IS TO WANT A MONEY AND A MONEY .