Fatima Bhutto

A Pakistani political analyst and author, challenging authoritarianism and advocating for women’s empowerment in South Asia.

Fatima Bhutto is a Pakistani political commentator and writer from a prominent political family, born in 1982. Despite her lineage, she has carved a distinct identity as a critic of Pakistan’s military and civilian elites. Her 2010 book 《Whispers of the Martyrs》 exposed state violence against Balochistan’s independence movement, while 《The Runaways》 (2014) explored the lives of Pakistan’s marginalized minorities. Fatima’s columns in The Guardian and HuffPost critique authoritarianism and gender inequality in the Muslim world. She has been a vocal supporter of Malala Yousafzai and women’s education initiatives. In 2018, she co-founded the Justice for Shahzeb campaign, demanding accountability for a high-profile honor killing. Fatima’s TED talk, “The Dictator’s Daughter”, reflects her journey from a political dynasty to an independent voice. Her 2019 collaboration with Human Rights Watch highlighted Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and their impact on women. Fatima’s work bridges postcolonial critique with modern social justice movements, influencing policy debates on democratization in South Asia.