(1928–79), president (1971–73) and prime minister (1973–77) of Pakistan.

Born Jan. 5, 1928, into a wealthy Muslim family, he studied in India, the United States, and Britain, where he earned a law degree from Oxford University. He held several posts under President Ayub Khan (1907-74); as foreign minister he improved relations with China and sought unsuccessfully to resolve the dispute with India over the status of Kashmir; friction over his policies led to his resignation in 1966. The next year, he formed the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which by 1970 was the largest in West Pakistan.

After the secession of Bangladesh and the resultant war with India in 1971, Bhutto emerged as president of the truncated country and was generally credited with returning it to relative stability. Under a new constitution (1973), he became prime minister. During his tenure Bhutto acted to institute land reforms and nationalize industries, but proved unable to work effectively with the political opposition, or deal with regional violence, and his government became increasingly repressive. In March 1977 elections his party appeared to win a decisive victory, but opposition leaders claimed fraud and he was deposed in July in a military coup. Bhutto was subsequently tried under martial law and found guilty of ordering the murder of a political opponent, a charge he denounced as a frameup; despite international opposition, he was hanged on Apr. 4, 1979. His daughter Benazir Bhutto then became leader of the PPP, and she eventually served twice as prime minister.