“My father was the Prime Minister of Pakistan. My grandfather had been in politics, too; however, my own inclination was for a job other than politics. I wanted to be a diplomat, perhaps do some journalism – certainly not politics.”

I seek to lead a democratic Pakistan which is free from the yoke of military dictatorship and that will cease to be a haven, the very petri dish of international terrorism.

Military dictatorship is born from the power of the gun, and so it undermines the concept of the rule of law and gives birth to a culture of might, a culture of weapons, violence and intolerance.

I am planning to return and contest the October elections in Pakistan.

I’ve never had a bank account in Switzerland since 1984. Why would the Swiss do this to me? Maybe the Swiss are trying to divert attention from the Holocaust gold scandal.

Our people are dying, poverty and unemployment are on the rise, but the rest of the world says that Musharraf is needed because [only] he can stop nuclear proliferation, [only] he [can launch] an operation in the tribal areas.

To make peace, one must be an uncompromising leader. To make peace, one must also embody compromise.

I was brought up to believe that human beings are good, which is why it shocks me to the core when I see human beings behaving badly.

I found that a whole series of people opposed me simply on the grounds that I was a woman.

Pakistans future viability, stability and security lie in empowering its people and building political institutions.

Being in jail is difficult too because it’s like being in a graveyard, you can’t do much.

I find that whenever I am in power, or my father was in power, somehow good things happen. The economy picks up, we have good rains, water comes, people have crops. I think the reason this happens is that we want to give love and we receive love.

All our problems, all our disputes, all our disagreements can be resolved quickly to mutual satisfaction if we address the question.

Purusing peace means rising above one’s own wants, needs, and emotions.

Democracy is the best revenge. After Benazir Bhutto’s death, her son’s brief public remarks were captured on video, and they were reported in international newspapers. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced, “My mother always said, ‘ Democracy is the best revenge.

No, I am not pregnant. I am fat. And, as the Prime Minister, its my right to be fat if I want to.

My goal is to prove that the fundamental battle for the hearts and minds of a generation can be accomplished only under democracy.

The only summit meeting that can succeed is one that does not take place.

I was never the diplomatic diplomat.