Nusrat Bhutto facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Begum Nusrat Bhutto
2nd Chairperson of Pakistan Peoples Party
In office 4 April 1979 – 10 January 1984
Preceded by	Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Succeeded by	Benazir Bhutto
Spouse of the Prime Minister of Pakistan
In office 14 August 1973 – 5 July 1977
Prime Minister	Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Preceded by	Mrs. Nurul Amin
Succeeded by	Begum Junejo
First Lady of Pakistan
In office 20 December 1971 – 14 August 1973
President	Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Personal details
Born	Nusrat Ispahani (1929-03-23)23 March 1929 Isfahan, State of Iran
Died	October 23, 2011(2011-10-23) (aged 82) Dubai, Emirate of Dubai, UAE
Political party	Pakistan People's Party
Spouse	Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Children	Benazir Bhutto Murtaza Bhutto Shahnawaz Bhutto
Relatives	See Bhutto family
Alma mater	University of Karachi

Begum Nusrat Bhutto (Persian: ‌نصرت بوتو; Sindhi: نصرت ڀٽو; Urdu: نُصرت بُھٹّو; born as Nusrat Ispahani; 23 March 1929 – 23 October 2011) was an important Iranian-Pakistani public figure. She served as the First Lady of Pakistan from 1971 to 1977. She was also a senior member of the Pakistani government from 1988 to 1990.

Nusrat was born in Isfahan, Iran, into a rich merchant family. Her family later moved to Bombay and then to Karachi after Pakistan became independent. In 1950, she joined a women's military group but left a year later to marry Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She moved to England with her husband while he studied law.

When her husband became the Prime Minister in 1971, Nusrat became the First Lady. After her husband was removed from power in 1977, she became the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party. She tried to save her husband, but he was sadly executed. Nusrat then went to London with her children. In 1981, she helped start the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy. This group worked peacefully against the government at the time.

Nusrat returned to Pakistan in 1986. After her party won the elections in 1988, she joined her daughter Benazir's government as a minister. She also represented Larkana District in the National Assembly. She stayed in the government until 1990. Later, she had a disagreement with her daughter Benazir, siding with her son Murtaza. Nusrat stopped talking to the media after her son Murtaza sadly passed away in 1996.

In 1996, Nusrat moved to Dubai because she was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. She passed away on 23 October 2011. In Pakistan, Nusrat Bhutto is remembered for helping women and for supporting democracy. She is called "Mādar-e-Jamhooriat" (meaning "Mother of Democracy"). The Pakistani parliament gave her this title after her death.

Early Life and Political Journey

Nusrat Ispahani was born on 23 March 1929 in Isfahan, Iran. Her father was a wealthy businessman. His family came from merchants in Isfahan and had some Kurdish heritage. Soon after she was born, her family moved to British India. They lived in Bombay and then moved to Karachi before Pakistan became independent in 1947.

Nusrat grew up with Iranian traditions at home but also learned about Indian Muslim culture. Before moving to Pakistan, she studied at the University of Karachi. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950.

Her Role as First Lady

From 1973 to 1977, Nusrat Bhutto was the First Lady. She worked as a political supporter and traveled with her husband on many trips. In 1979, after her husband's death, she became the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party. She led the party's efforts against the government of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.

Nusrat and her daughter Benazir Bhutto were arrested many times. They were kept under house arrest and in prison. Nusrat Bhutto was even injured by police during a cricket match in Lahore when people started cheering for her husband. In 1982, she was allowed to leave the country for medical treatment in London because she was ill. At this time, her daughter Benazir became the acting leader of the party.

Return to Pakistan and Later Politics

Nusrat returned to Pakistan in the late 1980s. She served two terms as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly. She represented her family's area of Larkana, Sindh. When her daughter Benazir was Prime Minister, Nusrat became a cabinet minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

In the 1990s, she and Benazir had a family disagreement. Nusrat supported her son Murtaza in the dispute. However, they later made up after Murtaza's sad death.

Personal Life and Final Years

Nusrat met Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Karachi. They got married on 8 September 1951. She was his second wife. They had four children together: Benazir, Murtaza, Sanam, and Shahnawaz. Sadly, she outlived three of her children. Benazir's husband and Nusrat's son-in-law, Asif Ali Zardari, later became the President of Pakistan.

Besides her native Persian, Nusrat Bhutto also spoke Urdu and Sindhi.

Illness and Passing Away

Nusrat was suspected of having cancer in 1982, which is why she left Pakistan for medical treatment. For many years, she also suffered from Alzheimer's disease. After her son Mir Murtaza Bhutto passed away in 1996, she stopped appearing in public. Her illness was so advanced that she was not even aware of the sad death of her daughter, Benazir.

She used a breathing machine in her final days. Nusrat Bhutto passed away at the age of 82 in Iranian Hospital Dubai on 23 October 2011. Her body was flown to her hometown of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in the Larkana District the next day. She was buried next to her husband and children at the Bhutto family mausoleum. Thousands of people attended the ceremony.

See also

• Bhutto family
• Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
• Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University
• Begum Nusrat Bhutto Airport
• Nusrat Bhutto Colony