Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated. An attacker fired shots at her and then blew himself up as she left an election rally on Thursday.

Below is a selection of quotes from one of the world's foremost female political leaders.

RECALLING A VISIT TO HER FATHER, FORMER PM ZULFIKAR ALI BHUTTO, BEFORE HIS EXECUTION IN 1979

"I told him on my oath in his death cell, I would carry on his work."

SPEAKING IN 1999, AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION

"I never influenced the awarding of a contract, and until my dying day I'll stand by it. They have tried to ruin me because they want to ruin the concept of a pluralistic, liberal Pakistan. To be accused of robbing, that really pains me."

SPEAKING AFTER ESCAPING TWIN SUICIDE BOMBINGS IN OCTOBER AFTER RETURNING FROM EXILE

"What I really need to ask myself is: do I give up, do I let the militants determine the agenda?"

"I've been having a party meeting and, believe me, the spirit amongst the party is one that I'm so proud of because they say we can't let the militants dictate to us what's going to happen, and that we have to try and save Pakistan by saving democracy. So my supporters are ready."

ON THE DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN PAKISTAN ON 3 NOVEMBER

"I do buy the argument that Pakistan was under growing threat due to the increase in activities by the militants, but I don't agree with the solution. I believe dictatorship has fuelled extremism. The extremists need dictatorship to flourish, and dictatorship needs the extremists as a pre-text to continue in place.

"I believe the solution lies in breaking the nexus, and that means bringing democracy."

SPEAKING ON SHARING POWER WITH GEN MUSHARRAF, AFTER BEING FREED FROM HOUSE ARREST ON 9 NOVEMBER

"I can't see how I can team up with somebody who raises hopes and dashes them... He talked to me about a roadmap to democracy and imposed martial law."

BUILDING SUPPORT ON 10 NOVEMBER FOR A "LONG MARCH" ON ISLAMABAD IN PROTEST AT EMERGENCY RULE

"Pakistan under dictatorship is a pressure cooker."

"Without a place to vent, the passion of our people for liberty threatens to explode... There is not enough barbed wire, or bullets, or bayonets to defeat my people's unquestionable desire for democracy."

ON THE UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

"Pakistan is at a crossroads. We citizens are faced with a decisive choice this January 8th, election day. We can turn our backs on the years of dictatorship, fundamentalism, and economic decline."

SPEAKING AT THE RALLY IN RAWALPINDI ON 27 DECEMBER SHORTLY BEFORE BEING ASSASSINATED

"I put my life in danger and came here because I feel this country is in danger. People are worried. We will bring the country out of this crisis."

ON DICTATORSHIP (1986)

"Every dictator uses religion as a prop to keep himself in power."

ON DEMOCRACY (1989)

"Democracy needs support and the best support for democracy comes from other democracies. Democratic nations should... come together in an association designed to help each other and promote what is a universal value - democracy."

ON DEATH (APRIL 2007)

"I don't fear death."

"I don't think it can happen unless God wants it to happen because so many people have tried to kill me."