Pakistani author, journalist, and activist Fatima Bhutto has spoken publicly for the first time about a decade-long abusive relationship, revealing deeply personal details in her forthcoming memoir The Hour of the Wolf. The book marks a significant departure from her earlier political writing and focuses on psychological abuse, secrecy, and survival.

Bhutto, a member of Pakistan’s most prominent political family, says she endured years of emotional manipulation and control while believing she was in love. She writes that the relationship, which began in 2011 while she was touring internationally for her acclaimed memoir Songs of Blood and Sword, was defined by cycles of affection, humiliation, and silence.

According to Bhutto, the man—referred to only as “The Man” in the book—kept the relationship hidden. They lived in different cities and countries. He discouraged her from introducing him to friends or family. Over time, she became increasingly isolated, despite her professional success and public profile.

Bhutto explains that the abuse was not initially physical, which made it difficult for her to recognize the danger. She describes being belittled in public, mocked in private, and subjected to emotional punishment. In one incident detailed in the memoir, she suffered nerve damage after being bitten during an argument.

The author says shame and self-blame prevented her from speaking out earlier. She believed her strength, independence, and upbringing made her immune to such harm. Writing the book, she says, was painful but necessary. She hopes it will help others recognize coercive control, regardless of their background or status.

The relationship ended in 2021 after Bhutto realized her partner would never commit to building a family or a stable life. She later met her husband in 2022 and became a mother to two children within three years. She says motherhood has reshaped her understanding of safety, love, and healing.

Bhutto’s life has long been shaped by trauma and political violence. She is the daughter of Murtaza Bhutto, who was killed in a police operation in Karachi in 1996. Her grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was executed after a military coup in 1979. Her aunt, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated in 2007.

Growing up, Bhutto lived much of her childhood in exile. She recalls frequent relocations, secrecy, and constant fear for her family’s safety. She says this upbringing made secrecy feel normal, which later contributed to her tolerance of an unhealthy relationship.

Despite her family legacy, Bhutto has consistently rejected a political career. She says her proximity to power has made her cautious rather than ambitious. Instead, she has focused on writing, activism, and human rights advocacy.

In recent years, Bhutto has been vocal about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She edited a collection of essays titled Gaza: The Story of a Genocide, published in 2025, and continued her advocacy throughout two pregnancies.

Bhutto says writing The Hour of the Wolf allowed her to confront unresolved trauma from both her personal life and political past. She describes the book as an attempt to tell the truth without self-censorship.

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