Bhutto family The Bhutto family (Sindhi: ڀُٽو‎) is a prominent political family of Pakistan, based in the province of Sindh. Bhuttos have played a prominent role in Pakistani politics and government. The family has held the leadership of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), since its inception in 1967. A family of ethnically Muslim Rajputs,^[1] based in Sindh province, the Bhuttos have been settled in the area for over two centuries. They migrated to Sindh from Rajputana (present-day Rajasthan, India) under Sheto Khan Bhutto in the early 18th century.^[2]

Two members of the family, Zulfikar and Benazir Bhutto, have been the Prime Minister of Pakistan in the past, whereas Asif Ali Zardari, widower of Benazir, served as the President of Pakistan, from 2008 to 2013.

History

Bhuttos originally migrated to Sindh in the early 18th century from the neighboring region of Rajputana (now Rajasthan in India). Bhutto's paternal ancestors were Hindu Rajputs, who converted to Islam in the late 17th century. Sheto was the first member of the Bhutto family, who converted to Islam, to reap tax exemptions for Muslims, during Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's reign. Following the conversion he took the title of Khan, becoming Sheto Khan.^[3] In Sindh, Bhuttos under Sheto first settled at Ratodero, a few miles north of Larkana.

Shah Nawaz Bhutto, a direct descendant of Sheto, came to prominence during the British Raj as a dewan of the princely state of Junagadh in south-western Gujarat in India. During the Partition of India in 1947, the Muslim Nawab of Junagarhwanted to accede his state to the newly created Pakistan, but he faced rebellion by the population of Junagadh, majority of whom were Hindus. The Indian government thwarted Junagadh's accession to Pakistan, and the Bhuttos fled to Sindh in modern-day Pakisan. Shah Nawaz Bhutto moved to Larkana District in Sindh, where his land-ownership made him one of the wealthiest and most influential people in Sindh.^[4] Beginning the political dynasty, Shah Nawaz's third son Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1928-1979) founded the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in 1967 and served as President and Prime Minister. His daughter, Benazir (1953-2007), also served as Prime Minister, while Benazir's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, later served as president from 2008 to 2013 CE. The Bhuttos continue to dominate the leadership of the PPP. Benazir's son Bilawal Bhutto Zardaribecame co-chairperson in 2007.

The family has experienced many premature deaths, drawing comparisons to the Kennedy curse: Zulfikar was convicted and executed in 1979; Shahnawaz died in France in 1983; Murtaza was killed in a police encounter during his sister's government in 1996; and Benazir died in an assassination in 2007.