Friday, March 9, 2007

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan to discuss “Power, Islam, Politics and the Modern World” at UT Arlington

By Pegasus News wire

ARLINGTON—Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of an Islamic country, will speak at The University of Texas at Arlington at 7:30 p.m. this Tuesday, March 27. The event is free and open to the public on a space-available basis.

If not for educational purposes, at least attend the lecture because Mrs. Bhutto is the prettiest Prime Minister you will probably ever see.

Bhutto, widely regarded as a key figure in 20th century global politics and a champion of civil liberties and political freedom, was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan twice and served from 1988 to 1990, and again from 1993 to 1996. Her biography, as posted on BBC, includes the following highlights:

• 1971, at age 16, sent to Harvard University
• 1973 her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, became Prime Minister of Pakistan
• 1977 returns to Pakistan. Martial law declared, Bhutto's father is arrested and Benazir is placed under house arrest
• 1979 Benazir Bhutto's father is hanged. She becomes leader of Pakistan People's Party. Spends seven years in exile or under house arrest
• 1986 Bhutto returns to Pakistan
• 1987 Bhutto wins election - becomes Prime Minister of Pakistan
• 1996 Bhutto removed from government, now living in exile

The Prime Minister’s visit to UT Arlington is the keystone event of the “conversations” lecture series in conjunction with the University’s OneBook shared reading experience of Khaled Hosseini’s “The Kite Runner.”

“When audiences around the globe hear Benazir Bhutto's dramatic story of democracy and deposal, they are awed by the tireless strength with which she struggles to bring freedom to the people of Pakistan,” said English Professor Laurin Porter, OneBook co-chair. “She is a living icon of the battle for democracy and stands with only a handful of female executive leaders who have shaped global events of the last century.”

Source: UTA

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