Bhutto was a controversial figure who remains divisive. She was often criticised as being politically inexperienced, was accused of being corrupt, and faced much opposition from Pakistan’s Islamist lobby for her secularist and modernising agenda. In the early years of her career, she was nevertheless domestically popular and also attracted support from Western nations, for whom she was a champion of democracy. Posthumously, she came to be regarded as an icon for women’s rights due to her political success in a male-dominated society.
Benazir Bhutto’s political ideology was deeply influenced by her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who championed socialism, democracy, and economic equality. She carried forward his vision through the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) with the slogan “Roti, Kapra aur Makan” (Bread, Clothing, and Shelter) — a call for social justice and welfare for all Pakistanis.
