Benazir Bhutto was the first woman to head a Muslim nation.Born in Sinah and political heir to her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto she honed her mind in the stimulating enviorn of Oxford and Harvard and was looked up by women all over the world as a beacon of hope .Her exemplary personal and political life were the inspiration to women all over to overcome the roadblocks imposed by men in their progress in life

The intrepid woman she was, she was fully aware of the risks in inheriting her charismatic father’s legacy, and bounced back after five years to power to set the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Women the world over continue to face challenges and the glass ceilings of tradition and the attempt to overcome the obstacles of is a feat in itself.

Dubbed as the daughter of the East, Benazir's political ascent and her increasing popularity as a fiery speaker are examples to other women.

What is most remarkable about her was that despite the obvious risks she faced in challenging a military dictator she dared the threats of bullets, bombs and suicide bombers which most people believe it is because of her love for her beloved people and country and not for any personal gains.

Benazir wanted the people of Pakistan to enjoy the liberal lifestyles of people living in democratic countr,ies which were mostly denied under Pervez Musharaf. Interviewed by CNN she was quoted as saying "I put my life in danger and came to Pakistan because I feel the country is in danger. This aptly illustrates the burning patriotism that fuelled her every move since she decided to seek re-election and gain power to reorder Pakistan's political future for the greater good of the country.

She was elected PM of Pakistan first in 1988 when she was 35. Although new to the intriacacies of statecraft and diplomacy, the pink faced attractive politician became the star attraction in Pakistan among all classes of people.

Her motherly instinct is to be admired. Even after undergoing many hardships whilst in power as well as outside she guided her children well in their education with her son entering Oxford University.

Though politics was her passion it did not deter her from being a good mother to her three children.

We women should be proud of her courage and steadfastedness.

Benazir is no more but the principles she stood for will brighten the future of the people of Pakistan and women allover the world.

In 1994 in an interview to the Swedish Press she said male prejudice still runs deep and when one is a woman, whether it is in Pakistan or elsewhere. I think people are more generous with men than they are with women because having a man leader is considered an accepted fact of life, while having a woman leader is not and therefore the hunt for finding the weak spots or the vulnerabilities. It is more personalised where women are concerned and there's a presumption that women are weaker", Benazir said.

As any other leader Benazir too, had her flaws. Yet she was one of several women who were collectively South Asia's political icons. She was unable to do much as she spent lot of time fighting political battles with clerics and others. There was little opportunity for her to be deeply concerned in policy-making and solving financial crisis. Corruption was rampant. But she is a woman to be admired.