27/12/2007 > PAKISTAN
Bhutto was
attacked as she was leaving Islamabad
by car. The meeting had finished. I hadn't even left the park where the
gathering took place when I heard the blast. It was so loud. I don't know how
she could have been shot when she was in a bullet proof car. We still don't
know how she died. When I left the Rawalpindi
party, all hell was breaking loose. They were burning flags and smashing office
windows. The crowds were so angry, I don't know what will happen next."
Like many Pakistanis, I am sad, of course. But not surprised at all. This period was inevitable. Apart from the personal tragedy of the Bhuttos (people are likening them to the Kennedy clan), this is a time of grave distress for Pakistan. Although the knee-jerk reaction of her supporters has been to blame Musharraf for this incident, there is no doubt that his stupid policies in recent months are responsible for the country's demise. For half of its 60 years it has been 'ruled' by the army directly and for most of the remaining 30 years by the army indirectly. The
talk of democracy is a mere façade. The fundamentalists have turned into extremists and pose a danger ... but one that is far less than the fact that
the root causes of fundamentalism are spreading into those sections of society that were, just a few years ago, moderates. America's policies (and those of Britain)
have acted as catalysts and blurred the distinctions of who is with whom and why. The outcome is predictable. If Musharraf holds his sham-election it will make it even more of a tragicomedy; if he does not, the Taliban agenda will have gained more... Either way, Pakistan loses out."
Rawalpindi is only half an hour away by train
from my home. But I never would have gone to Bhutto's meeting. We all knew it
would be too dangerous. In any case, I respect Bhutto as a woman, and I
recognise her as a brilliant politician.
But I wouldn't have wanted her to rule our country. She, and her party, are
completely corrupt."
Bhutto’s assassination: our Observers fear the backlash
The ex-prime-minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated this afternoon after an electoral meeting in Rawalpindi, a suburb of Islamabad. Our Observers give their initial reactions to the event. One of them, Rana Afzaal, was at the scene when the bomb exploded.
The contributors
"I heard the blast. It was so loud"
Rana Afzaal is a supporter of Bhutto's People's Party. He was still in the park where the meeting took place when the bomb exploded.
Bhutto was
attacked as she was leaving Islamabad
by car. The meeting had finished. I hadn't even left the park where the
gathering took place when I heard the blast. It was so loud. I don't know how
she could have been shot when she was in a bullet proof car. We still don't
know how she died. When I left the Rawalpindi
party, all hell was breaking loose. They were burning flags and smashing office
windows. The crowds were so angry, I don't know what will happen next."Post your questions to Rana Afzaal.
"I am sad, but not at all surprised"
Zaheer is a blogger and universoty lecturer who lives in the South of Pakistan. He reflects on the causes and results of the events.
Like many Pakistanis, I am sad, of course. But not surprised at all. This period was inevitable. Apart from the personal tragedy of the Bhuttos (people are likening them to the Kennedy clan), this is a time of grave distress for Pakistan. Although the knee-jerk reaction of her supporters has been to blame Musharraf for this incident, there is no doubt that his stupid policies in recent months are responsible for the country's demise. For half of its 60 years it has been 'ruled' by the army directly and for most of the remaining 30 years by the army indirectly. The
talk of democracy is a mere façade. The fundamentalists have turned into extremists and pose a danger ... but one that is far less than the fact that
the root causes of fundamentalism are spreading into those sections of society that were, just a few years ago, moderates. America's policies (and those of Britain)
have acted as catalysts and blurred the distinctions of who is with whom and why. The outcome is predictable. If Musharraf holds his sham-election it will make it even more of a tragicomedy; if he does not, the Taliban agenda will have gained more... Either way, Pakistan loses out."Post your questions to our Observer Zaheer Alam Kidvai.
"She's completely corrupt"
Nezhat Shah is an Islamabad-based journalist who decided not to go to the conference.
Rawalpindi is only half an hour away by train
from my home. But I never would have gone to Bhutto's meeting. We all knew it
would be too dangerous. In any case, I respect Bhutto as a woman, and I
recognise her as a brilliant politician.
But I wouldn't have wanted her to rule our country. She, and her party, are
completely corrupt."
Oh, but for the beauty of Bhutto
...and Sharif is not corrupt? The bottom line is that Pakistan is a country rife with terrorists and terrorism activities. However, regardless of her intentions to bring democracy to Pakistan, Bhutto put her life and the lives of thousands of innocent civilians at risk by appearing in public despite the warnings. And for what? To prove her popularity? What did she actually achieve for Pakistan upon her return to the country last year? The very people she was proclaiming to help she also helped to kill. Will her son Bilawal will do it differently to his mother and grandfather before him? Soon to see...
anser of your question
i read your comments on buttos death all i can say " shame on you"
dr. khalida ali usa.
Comments on Benazir Assassination, Investigation
being as a legal person and supporter of PPP, m totally disagreeing with the outcome of press confrencess of Birg (R)Cheema. in my point of view it is not a assassination of a person, but of a federation because she was always fighting for federation. although she has so many opportunities to weakend the federation but she was totally in favor of federation and for this very purpose she has borrowed so many difficulties, i have no trust on pakistani investigating agencies, in the presence of present Regime. therefore i m strongly supporting the international investigating agencies to comeforward and discolse the ultimate hidden realities of this brutul murder of an era.
True Bravery
I first saw Mrs. Bhutto on 60 minutes when she was originally elected prime minister of Pakistan. She was brilliant, beautiful, devout and committed to the people of Pakistan. I have not followed her career well enough to know what is behind the corruption charges - I don't understand what she would have to gain.... she could have done anything she wanted to do - there was nothing to gain - and everything to lose - by coming back to Pakistan. The world has lost some one who was very special... but I have a feeling that the Taliban has made a serious mistake. I think Mrs. Bhutto will be more powerful in death than she was in life.
How could he fire at her?
Do we know how the terrorist managed to shoot her despite the bullet proof glass of her car?
How they managed to shoot her despite bullet proof glass.
This was accomplished by her as she popped her head out of the sun roof of the bullet proof car. She should have stayed inside and greeted her croud from within the car. She was assinated a similar way that President Kennedy was killed. He ordered the bullet proof top of his car removed so he could greet his well wishers. Once the security is in place, they should not wavier from it.
You're right - whichever way
You're right - whichever way you look at it, Pakistan (and the world) loses out due to this truly tragic incident. The bloodshed that will inevitably prevail from this will be horrendous. Musharraf will continue to squeeze his grip on power and now that Benazir is out of the way, there's little to stop him. Democracy dies and we can look forward to nothing but further carnage brought about by these so-called 'religious' exponents. Whatever happened to 'peace on Earth etc....'?
i agree
I totally agree with your statement regarding this matter. Pakistan has lost out on a tremendous party leader, who had all the qualities and the skills that a good leader and a person requires. The corrupt government of Pakistan should become more civilised and act like a responsible government otherwise Pakistan will be completely destroyed one day.
A huge mistake
I completely agree. She was a charismatic and a beautiful person. A mother and person who risked her life to fight the tyranny of oppression in a country like pakistan. If she was corrupt, do you think people like Musharraf and others are any less corrupt?. Mitility coo, dictatorship and poisonous heads at the helm of affairs.....this country needs liberal ambassodars who arent brainwashed into thinking negative thoughts about the west, but somehow integrate all the good aspects of each society. She was going to bring pakistan to the ultimate reality of democracy, free up the down trodden and underdeveloped minds and even bring about a gradual improved awareness to the somwwhat suppressed ladies of pakistan. A sophistocated lady indeed, who had an educated background and a lady who would ultimately bring integration in a modern day pakistan.