Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, to speak at Murray State University (cont.)

Benazir Bhutto awes audiences around the world with a story of democracy, deposal and the tireless strength with which she struggles to bring freedom to the people of her country, Pakistan. She will bring that story to Murray State University as the world leader chosen to speak at third annual Presidential Lecture Series.

Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan, will speak as a "Daughter of Destiny" on Tuesday, March 13, at 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium on the MSU campus. Sponsored by the Presidential Lecture Series, the Student Government Association and the MSU Foundation, the lecture is free and the public is encouraged to attend, along with MSU students, faculty and staff.

"This is an important campus event," said Dr. Randy Dunn, MSU president. "The Presidential Lecture Series has brought leaders to Murray State who have made significant changes in the world. With Prime Minister Bhutto’s acceptance of our invitation, that is certainly true once again."

Earlier lectures featured Lech Walesa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and Solidarity leader in Poland, and F.W. de Klerk, former president of South Africa, apartheid foe and Nobel Peace Laureate.

In her book, "Daughter of Destiny," Benazir Bhutto describes herself as a woman raised in a conservative society. She brings readers into a fascinating world of sacrifices and triumph, from the assassination of her father to witnessing the citizens of a poor Third World country exercising the right to vote.

Bhutto was first chosen as prime minister in 1988 at the age of 35, making her the youngest popularly elected chief executive officer in the world and the first female prime minister in the Muslim world. After just 20 months in office, a rival political party unconstitutionally dismissed her government. Unwavering in her desire to bring freedom to the people of her country, Bhutto fought on and was reelected as prime minister in 1993.

As prime minister, she faced the challenges of governing a poor, politically fractious and ethnically diverse nation. Bhutto earned praise for moving swiftly to restore the civil liberties and political freedom that were suspended under military dictatorship. Her accomplishments include the launch of a nationwide program for health and education reform.

Although no longer prime minister, Bhutto is chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party. A living icon in the battle for democracy, she stands with only a handful of female executive leaders who have shaped global events of the last century.

She continues to speak eloquently and passionately about the need for basic democratic freedoms for the people of Pakistan, including freedom of the press, economic stability and gender equality. Bhutto, who resides in Dubai, makes frequent trips to the United States.

"Along with sharing her dramatic story of democracy, Ms. Bhutto will also speak about our need to better understand Islam and the Muslim world as political power struggles play out in all corners of the globe," Dunn noted. "I encourage everyone to mark their calendars for this interesting and informative event."