The prime minister's prestige took a further blow when her estranged brother Murtaza was gunned down by police in September.

CNN: The President Confronts The Premier

Bhutto's brother, Murtaza, a firebrand politician, died in a shootout with police in Karachi in 1996.

NPR: A Dangerous Game: The Perils of Pakistani Politics

They had fought over matters ranging from judicial appointments to the investigation into the fatal shooting of Bhutto's brother and political rival, Murtaza, in September.

CNN: The Sacking of Benazir