Rationalists may turn up their noses at the significance of numbers, but those who believe that the mysteries of the world are hidden in numbers say the number 9 was unlucky for slain Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto.

A text message that is doing the rounds in Pakistan lists the many nines in Bhutto's life. To begin with, Bhutto was born in 1953, which adds up to 18 and thence to 9. She died in 2007, which again adds up to 9.

The text message, which is also being forwarded on e-mail and has been posted on the Internet, is full of the "unlucky 9" examples.

Bhutto got married on December 18 to Asif Ali Zardari, and many Pakistanis believe the marriage affected her political career, especially in view of the allegations of corruption levelled against Zardari. The date, of course, adds up to a 9.

She went into self-imposed exile in Dubai in 1998, which according to numerology, adds up to 27 and then the dreaded 9!

The text message also quotes a Wikipedia entry which says that the Pakistan government filed criminal charges against Bhutto in an effort to track $1.5 billion she and Zardari allegedly received. The equivalent amount in Pakistani currency is Rs 90 billion.

Bhutto's life span 54 years also adds up to 9.And if that was not enough, she was assassinated on December 27, another 9! Pythagoras, the father of numerology, believed that all forms, art and thoughts are ruled by numbers.

Romans also believe that the mysteries of the world are hidden in numbers. The influence of numbers on Indian astrology is well documented.

 In the rational world, there are not many takers for the lucky-unlucky number game and rationalists have many examples to prove that even the dreaded number 13 is lucky.

However, the links the number 9 to Bhutto's life is eerie, says the message.