Pakistani writer Fatima Bhutto has spoken publicly for the first time about enduring an abusive relationship, detailing her experience of coercive control in a new podcast. Bhutto, born into Pakistan's influential political dynasty, described how the trauma of her father's death made her vulnerable to a man who promised to 'fix her'.
Bhutto's father, Murtaza Bhutto, was killed in a police shootout when she was 14, a loss that shaped her adult life. Despite her independence and successful career, she found herself drawn into a relationship characterised by secrecy and pain, which she hid from everyone around her.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Bhutto admitted her surprise at becoming trapped in such a dynamic. 'I like to think of myself as fairly well read. I took psychology courses in college. I know all this stuff. I just truly, truly could not imagine that it would be something I put up with. And not only did I put up with it, but I put up with it for a very long time,' she said.
The podcast marks the first time Bhutto has shared details of the abusive relationship, breaking a silence she maintained for years. Her story highlights the insidious nature of coercive control and the challenges of recognising it, even for those who are well-informed.
