December 2, 1988, was one of those days in history when the world collectively went, “Wait…what?!” That’s the day Benazir Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan, becoming the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority country. Just let that sink in. Pakistan—P-A-K-I-S-T-A-N—where, at the time, many women couldn’t open a bank account without a male relative co-signing—elected a woman as their head of government. Meanwhile, the United States is over here, in 2024, still trying to figure out if it’s okay to hire women who aren’t named Karen.
Now, let me set the scene. This wasn’t some feel-good, underdog Disney movie where Benazir Bhutto walked into a room of skeptical men, gave a heartfelt speech, and everyone cheered. No, this was a drama. This was Shakespeare with tanks. This was “The Godfather” meets “The West Wing,” except no one ever said, “Leave the gun, take the cannoli,” because they needed both.
The Bhutto Dynasty: Succession, but Make It Pakistani
Benazir wasn’t just any politician. She came from Pakistan’s first family of drama, the Bhuttos, a dynasty so tumultuous it made the Kennedys look like a Rotary Club. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was a big-deal prime minister in the 1970s. Charismatic, controversial, and the kind of guy who’d probably say, “I don’t need to win the argument—I just need to win.” He ruled with a mix of populism, charm, and what we’ll generously call “creative governance.”
But the Bhutto family’s story took a sharp turn into tragedy. In 1977, Zulfikar was ousted in a military coup by General Zia-ul-Haq—a man whose leadership style can only be described as “If Darth Vader went to law school.” Two years later, Zulfikar was hanged after a politically motivated trial. And just like that, Benazir, still in her twenties, found herself under house arrest. I mean, most of us at 25 are worried about rent and what we’re doing with our lives. Benazir was out here worrying about military dictators and whether her family’s political legacy would survive. No pressure.
For the next decade, Benazir endured harassment, imprisonment, and exile. She rebuilt her father’s political party, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), while General Zia turned Pakistan into his personal fiefdom, complete with martial law, oppressive Islamic ordinances, and an attitude that screamed, “Don’t like it? Too bad.” But in 1988, karma—or a faulty engine—stepped in. Zia died in a mysterious plane crash. (And by “mysterious,” I mean people are still debating if it was an accident, sabotage, or just really bad aviation maintenance.)
With Zia gone, Pakistan held its first democratic elections in more than a decade. And guess who won? Benazir Bhutto. At 35 years old. Thirty-five! When I was 35, my biggest accomplishment was figuring out how to make my Wi-Fi work on all three floors of my house. This woman was out here running an entire country.
Prime Minister Bhutto: The Hope, the Struggles, and “Wait, What Did Her Husband Do?”
When Benazir Bhutto took office, it was a moment. A moment for women, for democracy, for anyone who ever thought, “Hey, maybe we should try not having the military run everything.” People called her the “Daughter of the East”—a symbol of progress, modernity, and hope. She promised to reform education, expand healthcare, and improve women’s rights. Basically, she came in hot with a laundry list of goals that sounded great on paper but, in reality, were like trying to remodel a house that’s already on fire.
Her government was plagued by problems. The economy was in shambles, ethnic tensions were boiling over, and, oh yeah, the military wasn’t exactly thrilled about her being in charge. (Imagine being the only woman in a room full of ex-dictators saying, “Actually, I think we should do it this way.”) On top of that, her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, started gaining a reputation for being, shall we say, ethically flexible. They nicknamed him “Mr. Ten Percent,” because allegedly, every government contract he touched came with a 10% surcharge—for him.
By 1990, her government was dismissed on corruption charges. But, like any great political dynasty, she came back. She was re-elected in 1993, dismissed again in 1996, and spent the rest of her life bouncing between political comebacks and exile, like a Pakistani Joan of Arc with better hair.
Her Legacy: Messy, but Unforgettable
Was Benazir Bhutto perfect? No. She had flaws, controversies, and her fair share of political missteps. But she also had guts. She stood up to dictators. She gave millions of people—especially women—hope. And she proved that leadership doesn’t have to look like an old guy in a military uniform yelling into a microphone.
Her assassination in 2007 during a campaign rally was a devastating blow—not just for Pakistan, but for democracy itself. It was a stark reminder that progress is fragile, and change comes with risks.
And Then There’s America: The Land of Excuses
Let’s talk about the bigger picture. Since Bhutto, more than 80 women have served as heads of state or government around the world. Iceland, Liberia, Germany, New Zealand—countries big and small, rich and poor, have all elected women to lead. Even countries with patriarchal traditions so deep they might as well be written in stone—like Bangladesh, the Philippines, and yes, Pakistan—have had female leaders.
And then there’s America. The self-proclaimed “leader of the free world.” The country that gave us Beyoncé, moon landings, and the Internet, but still can’t seem to elect a woman to its highest office.
In 2016, we had Hillary Clinton—a candidate so qualified she probably could’ve done the job blindfolded while solving a Rubik’s Cube. But no. Instead, we elected a man who thought windmills cause cancer. Why? Because some people didn’t like her emails. Or her laugh. Her laugh. Imagine explaining that to Benazir Bhutto. “Yeah, we didn’t elect the woman because her voice annoyed us.” Meanwhile, Pakistan’s like, “Oh, our woman leader rebuilt democracy after living under house arrest, no big deal.”
And then 2024 rolls around, and Kamala Harris—smart, experienced, and incredibly capable—loses to a man who’s not just divisive, unethical, and unqualified, but also a convicted felon and adjudicated rapist. People actually looked at her and thought, “You know, I’m just not sure she’s ready.” Ready? She’s literally been Vice President for four years. What more do you want? A TikTok explaining her policies?
The Takeaway: America, It’s Time to Get Over Yourself
Here’s the thing. If Pakistan—a country with deep patriarchal roots—could elect a woman 35 years ago, what’s our excuse? Why is it that we’ll trust women to run Fortune 500 companies, command armies, and save lives as doctors, but we draw the line at letting them sit in the Oval Office?
Benazir Bhutto wasn’t perfect. But she tried. She led. And she inspired millions. If America really wants to call itself the leader of the free world, it’s time to take a page from Pakistan’s playbook. Because right now, we’re less “leader” and more “guy who shows up late to the group project and still expects credit.”
It’s 2024. The excuses are tired. The bar is low. And America? You’ve got some catching up to do.
