Pakistan

Bhutto, 54, a former two-time premier, has always said that a crowd is the best cushion for a leader.

Non-Muslim destitute women are the most oppressed citizens in Pakistan, said Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) director IA Rehman while chairing a meeting with women politicians on Wednesday.

Women's wings of political parties are contributing less to the present election campaign than they did to previous ones.

Just days before parliamentary polls in Pakistan, leading Prime Ministerial contender and anti terrorism crusader Benazir Bhutto was shot dead during an election rally in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. "She has been martyred," said party official Rehman Malik.

Beloved by many and forcefully hated by others (some because of her politics and some because of her gender), Benazir Bhutto proved that women can be tough enough to handle security and national defense, and do whatever is necessary to lead, according to

The need for a clear policy and legislation to address women issues was stressed in a meeting of the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) Alliance on Monday. EVAW is a group of NGOs working for women’s empowerment.

A 35-member delegation of Women's Action Forum (WAF) Sunday held a reference in memoriam of Benazir Bhutto. The WAF members paid rich tributes to Benazir Bhutto and expressed deep grief over her assassination.

Fifty-one-year-old Mirza, a medical graduate, is likely to win the contest for the post as the PPP, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam have a majority in the National Assembly.

Picture the moment. It is Dec. 2, 1988. A beautiful woman, 35 years old, walks into the presidential palace in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, flanked by liveried and turbaned honor guards.