Islam, Pakistan and Women Leadership: A Case Study of Benazir Bhutto

Abstract

This study is an attempt to understand the women leadership traits and revisit and re-evaluate the leadership qualities of Benazir Bhutto as a female political leader, Party head and the Prime Minister. Therefore, the underlying hypothesis of this study is that Benazir Bhutto emerged from a crucial situation when her father was hanged which created leadership void in the country. She filled that political gap and led the political party and country with such qualities which may be described as charismatic. In Islamic country of Pakistan, the female leadership traits of Benazir Bhutto were considered as an unusual characteristic for a women political leader. While analyzing her leadership traits, this study argues that, by dint of her sheer qualities, Benazir Bhutto stamped her name on the politics of Pakistan, the Muslim world and indeed in global politics. Therefore, the study explores, investigates and analyses the phenomenon of women leadership while specifically focusing on Benazir Bhutto’s works for the women development in Pakistan. As a Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto took several steps and measures to ameliorate the plight of woman. The study is an endeavor to find out the following answers: How did Benazir Bhutto resist against the military ruler; what were challenges and response of a female leader in Pakistan; what steps did she take for women’s empowerment; how did these efforts led towards the sociocultural, economic and political empowerment of women.